The Brownfield Police Department would like to provide an update on the suspects arrested during a joint raid operation on October 3rd, 2024. This operation involved collaboration with the Brownfield Police Department, the DEA’s Dallas Field Office – Lubbock Resident Agency, the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office, the Lubbock Police Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and Homeland Security Investigations.
We are pleased to report that all defendants from this operation have been convicted in federal court and have received prison sentences ranging from 1.5 years to 17.5 years. The City extends thier gratitude to Detective Curtis Bloom and the assigned DEA agents for their dedicated work on this case.
On the early morning of Thursday, October 3rd, 2024, a federal law enforcement raid took place in Brownfield, resulting in the arrest of 13 alleged drug traffickers. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the alleged organized crime ring was operating in Brownfield and the surrounding areas, and with the arrests, the individuals have been federally charged and sentenced.
The defendants were arrested on Thursday in a coordinated operation involving officers and agents from the Brownfield Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration’s Dallas Field Office – Lubbock Resident Agency, the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office, the Lubbock Police Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and Homeland Security Investigations. They appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Amanda ‘Amy’ R. Burch on Friday morning for their initial hearings.
“The success of this investigation highlights DEA’s outstanding partnerships with federal, state, and local agencies in the Caprock area,” said Special Agent in Charge Eduardo A. Chavez. “DEA Lubbock and its counterparts will continue to bring violent drug traffickers to justice in small rural communities and large metropolitan areas alike.”
“The Brownfield Police Department takes the health and safety of our community seriously. We will continue to do what is necessary to investigate, arrest, and prosecute those who distribute illegal narcotics on our streets and in our neighborhoods,” said Brownfield Police Chief Chris Kotzur.
Here is the list of those who were convicted and sentenced:
Kirkland Ryan Longoria, arrested in Brownfield, has been sentenced to 120 months
Sandra Kay Cavazos, arrested in Brownfield, has been sentenced to 84 months
Dewayne Deshae Willis, arrested in Brownfield, has been sentenced to 136 months
Larry Joe Franco, Jr., arrested in Brownfield, has been sentenced to 120 months
Demetrick Ward, arrested in Brownfield, has been sentenced to 135 months
Arthur Lee Willingham, arrested in Lubbock, has been sentenced to 140 months
Steven Blake Johnston, arrested in Lubbock, has been sentenced to 174 months
Steven Rene Rodriguez, arrested in Meadow, has been sentenced to 168 months
Lorraine Riojas Davila, arrested in Meadow, 87 months
Roberto Gallegos – 60 months
Varden Martinez – 210 months
