Arrests Made in an Organized Crime Ring

TYLER – Earlier this month, the Smith County grand jury returned indictments agsinst 25 persons. Starting Thursday morning a contingent of law officers began arresting the suspects. At last report, 21 of the suspects were in custody. They were arrested in Smith, Henderson and Van Zandt counties. Nineteen of the indictments were for engaging in organized criminal activity, five were for theft and one indictment was for aggravated assault on a public servant. The investigation started in mid December with the arrest of a suspect west of Tyler for stealing a vehicle and a motorcycle. The following investigation identified numerous persons accused of thefts, burglaries and drug offenses in the area. That led to the indictments and Thursday’s arrests.

During this investigation, nineteen stolen vehicles were recovered with an estimated value of $185,000. These vehicles were stolen in the City of Tyler, Smith County, Henderson County, Cherokee County, Van Zandt County and Titus County. Thirty separate search warrants were executed during this investigation for residences, vehicles, cellular telephones and other items. Six firearms were seized as well as methamphetamine and cocaine.