A Houston man who tried to outrun law enforcement and allegedly fling kilos of meth out of his car window will be spending more than a decade in federal prison for his troubles. Devon Shermaine Rhodes, 45, was sentenced last Friday to 135 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to possessing more than five kilograms of crystal methamphetamine with intent to distribute. U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellison rejected Rhodes's bid for a 46-month sentence and instead ordered five years of supervised release to follow his prison term. Prosecutors said the punishment traces back to a November 2022 drug deal and a high-speed chase in which Rhodes tried to ditch bulk meth on a Houston roadway.
According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Rhodes pleaded guilty on September 15 after paying more than $10,000 in cash for roughly five kilograms of crystal meth on November 8, 2022. Officials said he has remained in custody while awaiting transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility, and that Assistant U.S. Attorney Shelley J. Sullivan handled the prosecution.
High-Speed Chase and Kilos Flying Onto the Road
When law enforcement tried to pull Rhodes over, he took off, hitting speeds of up to 100 mph, and during the pursuit he tossed multiple kilograms of methamphetamine out of the driver's-side window, according to FOX 26 Houston. Some of the packaging burst open on the roadway. A later search of his vehicle turned up additional quantities of crystal meth.
Video shown in court contradicted Rhodes's claim that he neither threw drugs from the car nor drove recklessly during the incident, FOX 26 Houston reported.
Multi-Agency Probe Tied to a National Task Force
The U.S. Attorney's Office said the Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation, with backup from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations; the FBI; the Harris County Sheriff's Office; and the Houston Police Department. Prosecutors said the case was folded into "Operation All Gas No Brakes," a Homeland Security Task Force effort created under White House Executive Order 14159 to concentrate federal resources on transnational criminal networks.
Judge Cites Criminal History, Meth Danger in Sentence
In imposing the 135-month sentence, Judge Ellison pointed to Rhodes's lengthy criminal record and the inherent danger of crystal methamphetamine, FOX 26 Houston reported. Authorities said Rhodes will be transferred to a Bureau of Prisons facility to begin serving his time and will then be on supervised release for five years.
Why This Case Hits Close to Home
Federal officials say the case is a stark reminder of how bulk meth shipments can spill directly onto local streets, creating immediate danger for residents and drivers alike, and why multi-agency task forces are zeroing in on cartel-linked trafficking. The FBI and its partners describe Homeland Security Task Forces as a way to pool federal, state and local law enforcement power against transnational criminal organizations, as noted by the FBI.
