DPS agents disrupt drug ring; alleged leader still at large

TYLER – Law officers are continuing to investigate after breaking up a drug ring tied to East Texas. According to a DPS news release, on June 15, 2020, Lindale police arrested Jesus Granados, 25, of Dallas, after being called to a local pharmacy. The call came on the suspicion that Granados was trying to use a forged prescription to obtain Promethazine with codeine, a controlled narcotic. During the investigation, officers found Granados to be in possession of a forged driver license, leading officers to request assistance from DPS special agents. Over the last year, the special agents say they have discovered Granados was one of several suspects engaged in an organized prescription drug ring targeting Smith, Cherokee, Rusk, Gregg, Wood, and Upshur counties.

According to the release, the drug ring had been operating statewide out of Dallas with ties in Louisiana and Florida. The special agents say they discovered more than 300 gallons of fraudulently obtained product, with at least seven doctors’ prescription registration numbers being compromised. On August 26, 2021 a Smith County grand jury returned indictments for eight people in that ring, from the Metroplex, the San Antonio-New Braunfels area, and the states of Washington, Maryland, and Virginia. All are charged with engaging in organized criminal activity, each carrying a bond amount of $500,000.

Through the investigation, the agents determined that 28-year-old suspect Jordan Rose of Dallas directed the operation of the ring, using food, housing, clothing, phones and drugs to control more than 40 people recruited by the other seven suspects who were also indicted, all according to the news release. Rose posted bond in Smith County and was taken to Tarrant County, where he was released following a court appearance. However, Rose has outstanding warrants in Bexar County, Louisiana, and Florida with bonds totaling more than $3 million. Rose is now a wanted fugitive. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact DPS Special Agent Richard Brown at (903) 939-6143.