BEAUMONT, Texas – A Houston man with a history of felony convictions has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for his involvement in drug trafficking and illegal firearm possession, according to announcements by Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux of the Houston Division and U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.
Derrick Wayne Roberson, 32, pleaded guilty to charges of possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute and illegal firearm possession. On December 19, 2024, U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone sentenced Roberson to 235 months in federal prison.
Court documents revealed that in 2023, authorities began investigating a drug trafficking ring operating between Houston and East Texas. Roberson, identified as a key member of the organization, was responsible for transporting and distributing large quantities of contraband, including methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl analogues. He also trafficked firearms, including a weapon equipped with a “Glock switch,” a device that transforms a semi-automatic handgun into a fully automatic weapon, effectively making it a machine gun.
Roberson’s prior convictions for robbery, felony theft, and evading arrest disqualify him from legally owning or possessing firearms or ammunition. Despite this, he was found actively engaged in firearms trafficking as part of the organization’s operations.
This case was part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative, a federal program focused on reducing violent crime. PSN brings together federal, state, and local agencies to target high-risk offenders while promoting prevention and reentry efforts to achieve lasting crime reduction.
The investigation was led by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Texas Department of Public Safety – Criminal Investigations, and the Angelina County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald S. Carter.
Through collaborative efforts like PSN, law enforcement agencies continue to prioritize the prosecution of violent offenders and drug traffickers, ensuring safer communities for all.
