In a major crackdown on the scourge of fentanyl flooding our streets, two Fort Worth gang members have been hit with serious prison time for their roles in a sprawling drug operation. U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton for the Northern District of Texas has confirmed the stiff sentences handed down to the convicted traffickers, ensuring they'll spend a significant part of their lives behind bars.
Rhance Guerin, a 27-year-old Crips affiliate, was slapped with a sentence of 108 months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, a decision rendered by U.S. District Judge Reed C. O’Connor. Details released by the Department of Justice reveal that Guerin was nabbed by the Johnson County STOP Special Crimes Unit during an arrest and search operation on August 2, 2023, where, officers found more than 400 grams of deadly fentanyl among other drugs and firearms.
Willie Bryant, 39, faced the gavel on February 2, receiving a 135-month sentence from U.S. District Judge Mark Pittman after also pleading guilty to similar charges. In a chilling testament to the grip of the fentanyl epidemic, law enforcement found an arsenal of drugs and a stash of weapons hidden behind a bathroom mirror in what seemed like a scene straight out of a crime thriller, during a May 2023 raid of a Fort Worth residence linked to Bryant.
The investigations, spearheaded by Homeland Security Investigations, unveiled the grim reality of gangs peddling poison on the streets, earning Bryant and Guerin their lengthy stays in federal prison. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn Smith prosecuted the cases, marking a clear victory for the community in its ongoing battle against drug-related violence and addiction. Public Affairs Officer Erin Dooley is the point of contact for further inquiries, according to information provided by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
