Drug Trafficking Leads to Prison Sentence for Rusk County Resident

TYLER – 32-year-old Joshua Harned of Laneville is handed a 12-year, three-month federal prison sentence for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. Harned was sentenced in Tyler by U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Catharina Haynes. According to information presented in court, on Oct. 16, 2014, law enforcement officers went to Harned’s residence at the request of Texas Child Protective Services and found him in possession of a pistol. Harned admitted to being in possession of methamphetamine. A search of the residence revealed 214 grams of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and multiple additional firearms. Harned had $2,657 in cash on him at the time.

Harned admitted to making at least $20,000 from the delivery of methamphetamine between January 2014 and May 2015. Harned was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service on July 20, 2015 in Bear Creek, Alabama. At the time of his arrest, Harned was in possession of methamphetamine and firearms. Harned was indicted by a federal grand jury on Aug. 19, 2015.