Several Arrested for Drug Trafficking Following Discovery of Marijuana Plants

HOUSTON—Brothers Bernard Harry Theriot, 37, and Bryan Andrew Theriot, aka Tow Down, 33, both of Houston, and six others were arrested yesterday after search warrants executed at several locations resulted in the discovery of grow operations of marijuana plants, United States Attorney José Angel Moreno announced today along with Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Thomas E. Hinojosa and Fort Bend County Sheriff Milton Wright. Also arrested were Warrick Earl Washington, aka Triple, 40, Kevin Patrick Manecke, 27, Flabio Alberto Rodriguez, 30, and Clyde Bazile, 44, all of Houston; Timothy Allen Maness, 20, of Daisetta, Texas; and Kurt Wilson Fregia, 23, of Raywood, Texas.

The criminal complaint filed on May 26, 2011, charges Bernard and Bryan Theriot, Washington, Maness, Fregia, Rodriguez, and Bazile with conspiring to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance involving more than 100 marijuana plants. The complaint alleges the houses located at 1015 Cherry Spring Drive and 12331 Wrenthorpe Drive were utilized as grow houses for marijuana. The search of the Wrenthorpe house resulted in the recovery of approximately 253 marijuana plants, while the search at 1015 Cherry Spring Drive resulted in the recovery of approximately 230 marijuana plants. In addition, Manecke was charged in a separate complaint for the approximately 117 marijuana plants found at 10501 Jody Court.

All defendants are expected to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge George C. Hanks Jr. this afternoon. At that time, the court will determine whether the defendants will be released on bond or remain in custody pending preliminary and detention hearings at the request of the United States.

If convicted of the conspiracy offense, the defendants each face a mandatory minimum punishment of five years to a maximum of 40 years without parole and a $5 million fine.

The charges are the result of an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation conducted by federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies including the DEA, sheriff’s offices in Fort Bend and Harris Counties, the Katy Police Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the FBI.

A complaint is an accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.

Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until convicted through due process of law.