BEAUMONT, Texas – Six Center, Texas residents have pleaded guilty to gun and drug violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today. The plea hearings were held today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith F. Giblin.
Lakeva Shillette Hill, a/k/a Sugar Momma, 35, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Hill faces up to 10 years in federal prison.
Lester Earl Pitts, 48, pleaded guilty to providing a firearm to a drug trafficker and providing a firearm to a felon. Hill faces up to 10 years in federal prison.
Vincent Jermaine Lathan, a/k/a Reed Cartwright, 36, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Lathan faces up to 20 years in federal prison.
Cornelius Vansharles Gray, 36, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Gray faces up to five years in federal prison.
Anthony Gene Chumbley, 46, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Chumbley faces up to 10 years in federal prison.
Andrae Demarkqudell Pegues, a/k/a Mark, 33, pleaded guilty to making a false statement to the ATF. Pegues faces up to five years in federal prison.
According to information presented in court, from February 2011 to January 2013, Pitts was a certified peace officer employed as a deputy for the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. During that time, Pitts associated with Hill, Pegues, Chumbley, and Gray.
In May 2010, Pitts purchased a 9mm semi-automatic pistol which he provided to Pegues even though he knew Pegues was a convicted felon having been convicted of a drug trafficking charge in the Eastern District of Texas in 2000. Convicted felons are prohibited from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition.
On May 9, 2010, Pegues was arrested in possession of the firearm. The next day, Pitts filed a false burglary report with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, stating that the firearm had been stolen from his vehicle. Pitts instructed Pegues to conceal from law enforcement that Pitts had provided the firearm to Pegues. On June 4, 2010, Pegues lied to the ATF about how he obtained the firearm.
On Feb. 26, 2012, Pitts purchased a semi-automatic pistol for Hill although he knew Hill was actively committing drug trafficking crimes and was a convicted felon having been found guilty of distribution of cocaine in Louisiana in 1998.
On July 1, 2012, Pitts provided a .40 caliber semiautomatic pistol to Gray although he knew Gray was actively committing drug trafficking crimes.
On Dec. 31, 2012, Pitts loaned a shotgun to Chumbley, knowing that Chumbley was a convicted felon. Chumbley was convicted of delivery of a controlled substance in Cherokee County, Texas, in 1993; and delivery of a controlled substance in Cherokee County, Texas, in 1990.
The defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury on Apr. 17, 2013 and arrested on Apr. 18, 2013. Sentencing dates have not been set.
This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Center Police Department, and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John B. Ross.
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