Drug Trafficking Investigation Leads to Federal Charges for 3 Central Texans

WACO, Texas - Multiple individuals were arrested this week in the Waco area as the result of an investigation into an alleged drug trafficking conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Justin R. Simmons.

According to court documents, Broughm Cheyenne Pate, Matthew Devin Badger, and Christopher Monroe Sanders were arrested and federally charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. An additional subject was arrested in the operation for unrelated outstanding state warrants.

The operation, led jointly by the McLennan County Sheriff's Office Organized Crime Unit and Waco Police Department Drug Enforcement Unit, spanned across McLennan, Limestone, and Freestone counties and involved the execution of search warrants in the Waco area, the Mexia area, and Teague. In total, six search warrants were executed in the course of the operation.

The operation also resulted in the seizure of numerous items of evidence, including more than 826 grams of methamphetamine, approximately seven grams of cocaine, and 47.25 grams of marijuana. Three firearms were also seized, along with $4,384 in suspected drug proceeds and one vehicle.

If convicted, Pate, Badger and Sanders each face 10 years to life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, McLennan County Sheriff's Office, Waco Police Department, U.S. Marshals Service, Teague Police Department, and Limestone County Sheriff's Office are investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Smith-Burris is prosecuting the case.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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