Upshur County Woman Sentenced for Federal Conspiracy

TYLER – A Gilmer woman has been sentenced to federal prison following a lengthy investigation into a synthetic drug operation in East Texas. Shanna Peek Tidwell, 38, was sentenced in federal court in Tyler Tuesday to 30 months in federal prison. She pleaded guilty in the case last December. Besides the prison term, assets must forfeit include U.S. currency and bank accounts totaling over $1.2 million, real property, precious metals, two airplanes, six automobiles, other vehicles, and firearms.

On December 3, 2014, a combined task force of federal, state and local law enforcement executed federal arrest warrants and search warrants in Longview as a result of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Tyler Task Force. In April 2014, law enforcement agencies, initiated an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation into a synthetic drug trafficking organization based in the Gregg County area. This investigation involved extensive surveillance and controlled purchases of controlled substances, controlled substance analogues, and drug paraphernalia.

The operation resulted in the arrest of Tidwell, her husband, Jeremy Chad Tidwell, 41, of Gilmer, and brother-in-law, Brian Tidwell, 45, of Arlington. Four retail stores, all located in Longview, were searched as part of the law enforcement operation. Over $1.2 million, including in excess of $450,000 in cash, multiple vehicles, and large quantities of synthetic drugs were seized.

The three were indicted in a superseding indictment by a federal grand jury on February 19, 2015. Charges included conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute Schedule I controlled substances and controlled substance analogues, conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States, conspiracy to sell and offer for sale drug paraphernalia, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and maintaining a place for the distribution of a controlled substance or controlled substance analogue.