A Leesburg, Texas, man was sentenced to more than 19 years in federal prison for a methamphetamine case. Leesburg is approximately 184 miles northeast of Dallas.
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas Damian M. Diggs said in a news release Friday that Nathan Paul Hart, 36, was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and drug trafficking in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. He announced that he had pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm.
According to information previously presented in court, Hart conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine, marijuana and other narcotics in East Texas, announced in a March 8, 2022, news release.
On November 30, 2020, Hart and a co-defendant were stopped by Texas State Police in East Texas, where law enforcement found approximately 2 kilograms of methamphetamine and a handgun. Authorities said the methamphetamine was purchased in Mexico.
Authorities said Hart also admitted in May 2021, while in prison, to directing another person to send $22,680 in payment for drugs from California.
Officials said Hart was the organizer and leader of a large-scale drug trafficking operation involving five or more participants.
Mr. Hart faced life in federal prison when he was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 28, 2021.
But on Thursday, he was sentenced to 170 months in prison for drug offenses and an additional 60 months in prison for firearms violations. U.S. District Judge Robert W. Schroeder III ordered Hart to serve a total of 230 consecutive months in federal prison.
He must also forfeit $250,000.
According to information in court, Hart conspired with others to transport and distribute methamphetamine into East Texas from August 2019 to August 2021.
More than 1.5 kilograms (3.3 pounds) of methamphetamine was used in the crime.
The Drug Enforcement Administration, Texas Department of Public Safety, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service Criminal Investigation Division investigated this case, which was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Jackson.
