Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

WICHITA FALLS, Texas —Louis Griego, Jr., aka “Big Lou,” 44, of Wichita Falls, Texas, was sentenced on Monday, by U.S. District Judge Reed C. O’Connor, to 168 months (14 years) in federal prison following his guilty plea in July 2013 to an indictment charging conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas.

A total of seven defendants have pleaded guilty in the case.  In August, Judge O'Connor sentenced Anthony Rueben Johnston, 28, to 480 months (40 years) in federal prison; Rachel Dawn Billen, 20, to 36 months and Christina Gail Thompson, 32, to 42 months in federal prison.  Each of the defendants pleaded guilty earlier this year to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Three other defendants charged in the case, Janis Hernandez, James Allan Holley and Darren Scott Murphy, Jr., also pleaded guilty, and their sentencing dates are scheduled during the next few months.

According to documents filed in Griego’s case, Griego admitted that during the month of February 2013, he distributed quantities of methamphetamine to and received payments for methamphetamine from customers in the Wichita Falls area.  Co-conspirator Anthony Rueben Johnston supplied the methamphetamine that Griego distributed.                                                                                 

The Texas Department of Public Safety, the Wichita Falls Police Department, the Wichita County District Attorney’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated.                     

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary F. Walters is in charge of the prosecution. 

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