TEXARKANA, Texas - An alleged member of a Houston street gang is facing drug charges in a Texarkana federal court stemming from the seizure of more than 11 kilos of cocaine during a traffic stop on a Bowie County interstate.
Dewayne Lamont Dixon Jr., 34, was allegedly traveling at five miles over the posted 65 mile speed limit in a brown Hyundai Tuscon when he was pulled over May 26 by a Texarkana, Texas, police officer on Interstate 369, according to a criminal complaint filed in the Texarkana Division of the Eastern District of Texas.
Dixon allegedly told the officer he was heading to Pennsylvania to visit family.
After running Dixon for warrants, the officer noticed Dixon had been "flagged" as a possible member of the Vice Lords gang in Houston. Dixon allegedly admitted to have tattoos associated with the organization and to prior gang affiliation.
The officer reportedly asked Dixon if he had any drugs in the car which Dixon denied. When asked questions about specific drugs, Dixon allegedly provided a differently worded denial than for other types of substances.
Dixon allegedly gave the officer consent to search his car. The officer reportedly noticed tools in the center console and in the rear trunk area that are routinely used to hide contraband in the vehicle's "natural voids."
The officer allegedly noticed tool marks around one panel in the trunk area and used the tools to remove it. Inside were allegedly vacuum sealed bags.
When asked what the officer would find in the bags, Dixon allegedly lowered his head and said, "Cocaine."
Six vacuum bags were allegedly discovered in one panel and four additional bags in the opposite panel. The drugs were removed from Dixon's car and stacked on the top of the patrol car.
"Stamped into the surface of the bricks is what appeared to be markings consistent with Mexican drug cartels," the complaint states.
Also seized from the car were two cell phones and a laptop.
Dixon was represented by an Assistant Public Defender at an initial court appearance May 28 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Caroline Craven. Since then a notice of appearance in the case on Dixon's behalf has been filed by Houston lawyer Sina Zadeh.
No other hearings are currently scheduled. If found guilty of possession of more than five kilos of cocaine, Dixon faces a minimum of 10 years in federal prison and a maximum life sentence.
He is currently being held in the Bowie County jail.