Houston operation leads to charges against several for drug and gun crimes linked to Clinton Park neighborhood

HOUSTON — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Texas, Southern), published as received.

HOUSTON – A total of 10 Houston residents are now in custody for various firearm and drug trafficking offenses, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Authorities arrested Damian Ray Broussard, 39, Corre Deandre Plater, 36, Stacy Lawton, 46, Quentin Mayes, 51, Johnnie Lee Chatmon, 51, Leroy Lumpkin, 55, Emanuel Walker, 30, and Anthony Means, 51, April 7, who have begun to make their initial appearances in federal court. All are charged in separate, but related indictments returned in March which were unsealed upon their initial appearances.  

Ronald Maddox, 42, was previously arrested and remains in custody pending further criminal proceedings.  

At the time of the arrests, law enforcement also took a 10^th man into custody. Justin Leonard, 39, is charged in a separate, but similar criminal complaint. He is in custody on related charges and is expected to make his appearance in federal court in the near future.

According to the allegations, the group trafficked fentanyl, crystal meth, cocaine and counterfeit pharmaceutical drugs as well as firearms in Houston’s Clinton Park neighborhood.

As detailed in the complaint, Walker and Leonard allegedly sold various amounts of cocaine, crystal meth and approximately 3,000 pills containing meth. Leonard has also sold a large amount of crack cocaine out of the Clinton Park residence, according to the charges.

As part of the operation, authorities allegedly discovered and seized over 30 firearms, cocaine, pills containing meth or fentanyl, crystal meth, prescription pills, crack cocaine, heroin, marijuana and cash, among other things.

With the exception of Mayes, Chatmon and Walker, who face varying terms up to 40 years in federal prison for the drug charges, the remaining men could receive up to life in prison for either the drug and/or firearms charges. All could also be ordered to pay a maximum $250,000 fine on any of the counts.

FBI – Houston led the investigation as part of Operation Spring Cleaning along with Houston Police Department; U.S. Marshals Service; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard D. Hanes is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.