A Houston jury needed only about 90 minutes on Friday, April 17, 2026, to find 34-year-old Todd McCoy guilty of running a meth and gun operation out of a motel on South Main Street. The verdict capped a four-day federal trial and left McCoy convicted on six felony counts tied to drugs and firearms.
Prosecutors' account of the operation
According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas, McCoy was convicted on three counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and three counts of using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug offense. Prosecutors told jurors that over a five-month investigation, starting in December 2024, McCoy sold roughly 215 grams of methamphetamine and four firearms during multiple meetings arranged out of the same South Main motel.
Defense attorneys argued that law enforcement mishandled evidence and that the government could not firmly tie McCoy to all of the drugs and guns at issue. Jurors were not persuaded and returned guilty verdicts on every count.
Where this fits in Houston's meth problem
The case lands at a time when both local and federal agencies say meth is making a strong comeback in the Houston area, often intertwined with illegal firearms. As previously reported in meth wave slams Houston, DEA lab data and recent seizures have put the city back on the map for high-purity meth moving through transportation corridors and port hubs.
Investigation, prosecution and next steps
U.S. District Judge David Hittner presided over the trial and set sentencing for July 9, 2026. McCoy faces a potential sentence that could include life in prison, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas.
The FBI and the Houston Police Department led the investigation into the motel operation, while the DEA handled forensic testing and provided an expert witness at trial. The U.S. Attorney's Office also highlighted the conviction on X, posting the announcement along with a transcript of the press release.
What comes next
At sentencing, the court will weigh McCoy's prior criminal history, the quantity of meth involved and the firearms tied to the case. Prosecutors often seek sentencing enhancements when guns are linked to drug trafficking, which could significantly increase the time McCoy spends in federal prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Ganz and Hunter Brown handled the prosecution. McCoy is scheduled to return to Judge Hittner's courtroom on July 9, when he will learn how much of his future will be spent behind bars.
