Fort Worth, Arlington men sentenced for drug distribution

A Fort Worth man who federal agents say was a member of a large methamphetamine distribution ring in North Texas has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison.

And federal officials announced that an Arlington man has been sentenced to federal prison for his involvement in a separate methamphetamine distribution organization.

Jackie Lynn Watters, 50, of Fort Worth got 15 years for his role in the drug organization. He pleaded guilty in October to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Federal agents said Watters had been a lookout for the group and had collected drug proceeds since 2014. The drug was distributed to customers in the Wichita Falls area.

Federal agents estimated that 29 suspects have been charged in the case including Watters, and 28 have been convicted. Most have been sentenced, according to federal agents.

An Arlington man who was a member of a separate methamphetamine distribution organization also was sentenced on Friday to 30 years in prison for his role in that group.

Eric Summers, 40, of Arlington, had pleaded guilty in August to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Summers’ sentence is to be served concurrently with pending state cases.

Summers received the drug from co-conspirators and distributed it to others, federal agents said in court documents. Nine suspects in that group have been charged.

Fort Worth police, the Texas Department of Public Safety and agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations investigated the two groups.

This story was originally published January 26, 2016 at 2:30 PM with the headline "Fort Worth, Arlington men sentenced for drug distribution."