Head of Pot Distribution “Conspiracy” That Included Ex-Cowboy Gets 24 Years in Prison

In April 2009, John Patrick Newton was arrested by Drug Enforcement Administration agents for growing, storing and selling marijuana out of an apartment on N. MacArthur Boulevard in
Irving. Said the feds, he was the leader of “a marijuana distribution conspiracy known as the Newton Drug Trafficking Organization,” which included former Dallas Cowboys linebacker Kurt Vollers, who played for the team from 2002 through the ’04 season. A year after feds busted up the operation, Newton admitted to, among other charges, selling weed and money-laundering; Vollers pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute 100 kilos or more of marijuana.

Though Vollers was scheduled to be sentenced last July, he’s still awaiting word of his punishment; says a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office sent out moments ago, he remains free on bond in advance of his March 25 sentencing, where he faces a max statutory sentence of 40 years in prison and a $2-million fine. His attorney insisted last year that Vollers was a “good guy who made a big mistake.” Another man involved in the NDTO, Scott Matthew Kirk, who pleaded guilty to distribution and money-laundering, received a year and a day in prison in December; yet another man, Tommy Don Crutcher, awaits sentencing on March 18.

This morning, it was Newton’s turn in front of the judge in Dallas federal court, and Chief U.S. District Judge Sidney Fitzwater handed down a sentence of 292 months in prison. Says the release, the operation was up and running for more than two years — from January 2006 through May 2008. During that time …

Newton leased an apartment on North MacArthur Boulevard in
Irving, Texas, which was used to unlawfully store, distribute and
manufacture marijuana. From February 2008 through May 2008, Newton,
Crutcher and Kirk conspired to commit money laundering by conducting
financial transactions involving the proceeds of their unlawful
activity, designed to conceal and disguise the nature, location, source,
ownership and control of those proceeds.

Vollers actively assisted Newton by, among other things,
facilitating the delivery of marijuana to the Dallas area, facilitating
the storage of marijuana, repackaging bulk marijuana for sale,
distributing marijuana to buyers, facilitating the transfer of money
from buyers to Newton and counting the proceeds from the sale of
marijuana.

The rest of the narrative follows.

DALLAS MAN SENTENCED TO 292 MONTHS IN PRISON FOR ROLE IN
MARIJUANA TRAFFICKING CONSPIRACY
Co-Defendant Kurt Vollers, a Former Dallas Cowboys Football Player
Admits Role in Conspiracy, Awaits Sentencing

DALLAS – John Patrick Newton, 35, of Los Angeles, California,
was sentenced this morning by Chief U.S. District Judge Sidney A.
Fitzwater to 292 months in prison for his role as the leader of a
marijuana distribution conspiracy, known as the Newton Drug Trafficking
Organization that he ran in the Dallas area, announced U.S. Attorney
James T. Jacks of the Northern District of Texas. Newton pleaded guilty
in April 2010 to one count of conspiracy to distribute marijuana, one
count of maintaining a drug-involved premise, one count of possession of
marijuana with intent to distribute and one count of conspiracy to
commit money laundering. He has been in custody since his arrest in
April 2009.

In April 2010, Newton’s co-defendants, Kurt Vollers, 31, of
Dallas, Texas; Tommy Don Crutcher, 28, of Lewisville, Texas; and Scott
Matthew Kirk, 42, of Omaha, Nebraska, also pleaded guilty to their
respective roles in the drug trafficking organization. Vollers,
Crutcher, and Kirk each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to
distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana. In addition, Kirk
pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering,
and Crutcher pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering. Kirk was
sentenced on December 13, 2010, to one year and one day in prison.
Crutcher is scheduled to be sentenced on March 18, 2011; he faces a
maximum statutory sentence of 60 years in prison and a $2.5 million
fine. Vollers is scheduled to be sentenced on March 25, 2011; he faces
a maximum statutory sentence of 40 years in prison and a $2 million
fine. Both are on bond.

According to documents filed in the case, from January 2006
through May 2008, Newton, along with Vollers, Crutcher, Kirk and others,
participated in a conspiracy to distribute 100 kilograms or more of
marijuana. Newton leased an apartment on North MacArthur Boulevard in
Irving, Texas, which was used to unlawfully store, distribute and
manufacture marijuana. From February 2008 through May 2008, Newton,
Crutcher and Kirk conspired to commit money laundering by conducting
financial transactions involving the proceeds of their unlawful
activity, designed to conceal and disguise the nature, location, source,
ownership and control of those proceeds.

Vollers actively assisted Newton by, among other things,
facilitating the delivery of marijuana to the Dallas area, facilitating
the storage of marijuana, repackaging bulk marijuana for sale,
distributing marijuana to buyers, facilitating the transfer of money
from buyers to Newton and counting the proceeds from the sale of
marijuana.

Crutcher met Newton after he asked an associate if he knew
anyone who sold hydroponic marijuana. Almost immediately thereafter,
Crutcher began buying large amounts of marijuana from Newton. Newton
would typically “front” the marijuana to Crutcher with Crutcher paying
Newton for the delivered product form the proceeds he obtained from
selling the marijuana himself.

Kirk was involved in the conspiracy from Fall 2007 through May
2008 and during that time frame, Newton fronted Kirk 10 pounds of
hydroponic marijuana but Kirk never paid Newton back for it. Newton
allowed Kirk to work off his debt by renting an apartment for Newton in
Irving. Kirk was specifically instructed not to identify or mention
Newton on any of the paperwork for the apartment, and in fact, Newton
gave Kirk enough cash to pay for money orders to pay for six months
rent.

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA)
website, the use of hydroponics has enabled growers to increase the
potency of Tetrahydro-cannabinol (THC), the psychoactive ingredient in
cannibas plants, resulting in a more-expensive marijuana.

The case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA), the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal
Investigation, the Irving Police Department, and the Coppell Police
Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Dewald is prosecuting.