By James B. Bartle
A Stanton businessman has been sentenced to five years in federal prison following a guilty plea to a number of charges, including marijuana conspiracy.
U.S. Acting Eastern District Attorney Michael W. Reap announced that Daniel Bryan Webster, 41, Stanton, received his sentence on Friday before Judge Rodney W. Sippel.
Webster pled guilty in July to one felony count of conspiracy to possession with intent to distribute over 100 kilograms of marijuana, 12 felony counts of structuring financial transactions to evade reporting requirements, and one criminal forfeiture count.
The forfeiture count will now require the forfeiture of  proceeds of the illegal activity. The items in the forfeiture include $235,320 in cash, a 2003 Dodge Viper, a 1956 Ford Thunderbird, a 1988 Ferrari 328 GTS and a 2004 Gator X-Stream boat.
According to Reap, Webster admitted with his plea that between the Fall of 2004 through Aug. 13, 2008, he led a conspiracy to possess and distribute marijuana in Franklin County along with several co-conspirators, and that his sources of supply were from Houston, TX.
Webster is the owner of Iron Gate Auto Sales, Cuba.
Other co-defendants in the case and their sentence and present court schedule are: Brian Waltman, 41, Eureka, sentenced to five years in prison; Dennis Vaughn, 31, Riverview, five years probation; Walter D. Forman, 69, Galveston, TX, five years probation; Elmer Padilla, 10 years in prison; and James P. Clark, 83, Galveston, TX is facing trial.
Reap commended the work in this case by the Franklin County Narcotics Enforcement Unit, Crawford and Phelps County Sheriff’s Departments, Eureka Police, DEA, IRS Criminal Investigation Unit, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Noelle Collins and Zia Faruqui.
Franklin County Narcotics Enforcement Unit Sgt. Jason Grellner stated, “This investigation was brought to a successful conclusion by tenacious investigators who used every means at their disposal to reveal Mr. Webster’s criminal activity. It was a tremendous team effort that brings Webster to this sentence.”
“Currency report information provides a paper trail or road map for investigators of financial crimes and illegal activities, including tax evasion and money laundering,” said Toni Weirauch, special agent in charge of the IRS Criminal Division.
“Today’s sentencing demonstrates our unwavering commitment to root out criminal organizations wherever they may be found. Dismantling organizations like this and seizing their assets is a top priority for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration,” said special agent in charge Harry S. Sommers.