Longview Woman Guilty of Federal Drug Crimes

TYLER, TX—U.S. Attorney John M. Bales announced today that a 28-year-old Longview woman has pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas.

ASHLEY MARIE BOUTWELL, also known as Ashley Appleton, pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith K. Guthrie.

According to information presented in court, Boutwell was involved in a drug distribution ring responsible for distributing methamphetamine to other individuals in the Longview area since at least February 2004. A 17-count indictment was returned by a federal grand jury on Feb. 4, 2009, charging 19 individuals, including Boutwell, with federal drug trafficking crimes.

Boutwell faces up to 40 years in federal prison at sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set.

This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the East Texas HIDTA Violent Crimes Task Force, the Gregg County CODE Unit, the Gregg County Sheriff's Office, the Longview Police Department, the Gregg County District Attorney's Office, and the Kilgore Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard L. Moore.

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