Federal officials have reported that during a wire-tapped call, the background noise included the voices of children while a Texas third-grade teacher was allegedly involved in negotiating a drug deal.
A teacher was among the 20 individuals indicted on charges of narcotics and firearm trafficking on August 29, as reported by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas.
According to U.S. Attorney Alamdar Hamdani, elementary school teacher Jessica Ferguson was found to be involved in the recovery of cash and drugs, which took place on school grounds. This information was shared during a press conference posted by KHOU.
According to him, she was involved in a drug conspiracy while attending school, even participating in it during a phone call. “And the sound of children can be heard in the background.”
A teacher in the Sheldon Independent School District, Ferguson, has been put on administrative leave, according to an email sent by the district to McClatchy News. School officials clarified that the arrest did not occur in the presence of children.
On August 28, the teacher was summoned to the principal’s office and subsequently apprehended by federal officials.
No information about Ferguson’s attorney was provided.
Fifteen individuals have been charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, as stated in an Aug. 29 news release by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Officials have reported that several individuals are also currently facing charges related to the illegal possession of firearms. The charges against Ferguson were not specified.
According to FBI Special Agent in Charge Doug Williams, the individuals who were apprehended either belonged to the “Rich Kingz” gang in the Houston area or were associated with criminal networks in the region. This information was shared during a news conference. Williams believes that the gang is responsible for a number of crimes, including multiple killings.
Investigators are determined to piece together the puzzle of unsolved killings, according to Williams. Prosecutors did not provide details regarding the specific deaths that they believe the gang is linked to.
A key member of the “Rich Kingz” gang has been apprehended, according to federal authorities. According to Hamdani, he is facing accusations of distributing cocaine across Texas, the Midwest, and the East Coast.
“Drug trafficking remains a pervasive issue in Houston and across the United States, resulting in tragic loss of life,” Hamdani expressed. It claims lives through the brutal violence associated with the illegal drug trade. Tragically, lives are lost when individuals overdose on these substances. It causes devastation and loss of life in the communities it affects.
Sheldon is located approximately 20 miles northeast of Houston.
