Back in August Sam told you all about Tyrone Weatherall, a leader of the West Side Gator Boys -- and an exotic animal collector -- who pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine. Tyrone's due to be sentenced on November 19. But this morning U.S. District Judge Reed C. O'Connor went ahead and sentenced Tyrone's 33-year-old brother Patrick, another West Side Gator Boy who, in June, pleaded guilty to a single count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute crack. Both men have been in custody since the spring, when federal agents and Dallas PD gang-unit officers rounded up a dozen of the gang members, who, authorities say, ran about 20 drug houses in, where else, West Dallas -- just south of the Trinity, not far from N. Hampton Road.
The U.S. Attorney's Office release points out: O'Connor "departed upward from the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines" when ordering Patrick spend the next 30 years in state and federal prison. This, also from the release:
At today's sentencing hearing, an officer with the DPD Gang Unit testified that over the past 10 years, Patrick, and his brother Tyrone Weatherall, were the leaders of the gang. He further testified that they ran dangerous and armed drug houses within feet of the local elementary and high schools and "took over" the entire neighborhood. In addition, Patrick recruited several children, as young as age 14, into the drug trade. While the defense argued that Patrick Weatherall was a "gentle and loving man," the officer detailed his violent repeat offending criminal history, including the aggravated kidnapping and brutal beating of his ex-wife, while he was wanted for other offenses. Weatherall has been arrested well over a dozen times.
During the course of the conspiracy, officers and agents seized approximately 40.3 grams of crack and 439.8 grams of marijuana from the conspiracy members. Two firearms, 10.2 grams of crack and 439.8 grams of marijuana were seized from Patrick Weatherall.
Tyrone Weatherall pleaded guilty in August 2010 to the same offense and is scheduled to be sentenced on November 19, 2010. Tyrone Weatherall admitted that he used the drug trafficking proceeds to purchase exotic animals, horses, land, houses and at least one car. He acquired several horses that resided on his West Dallas ranch, five houses and a BMW. Tyrone Weatherall also admitted using drug proceeds to acquire four houses on Life Avenue in Dallas; one house on a lake (Comanche Trail) in Grand Prairie, Texas, and four lots on Barree Drive in Dallas. Tyrone Weatherall will be required to forfeit the ranch, horses, and multiple houses.
