Two East Texans Sentenced for Drug Violations

TYLER — Two Kilgore residents have been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations in East Texas. David Christopher Wheeler, 30,(pictured) pleaded guilty on March 7 to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison Tuesday. Raelene Dawn Ferguson, 27, pleaded guilty on March 6, to the same charges and was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison. Both appeared in Tyler federal court, appearing before U.S. District Judge Leonard Davis.

According to information presented in court, on February 16, 2011, Wheeler and Ferguson were involved in a conspiracy responsible for distributing methamphetamine in Gregg County. Wheeler admitted to being responsible for the distribution of 50 grams of methamphetamine while Ferguson admitted to being responsible for the distribution of 40 grams of methamphetamine. They were named in a federal indictment returned by a grand jury last November. Another co-defendant, Matthew Dean Willis, was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison on June 12 while three additional co-defendants are awaiting sentencing.