Special to The News

BEAUMONT — U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown announced Tuesday that five individuals have been arrested following a lengthy investigation into drug trafficking in the Eastern District of Texas.

A combined task force of federal, state and local law enforcement executed federal arrest and search warrants Tuesday in Beaumont, Port Neches, and Silsbee as the result of a joint investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Joint Narcotics Task Force.

The operation resulted in the arrest of five defendants named in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury on July 12.  The indictment said from March through December 2017, the defendants were involved in a drug-trafficking organization that conspired to distribute methamphetamine in Jefferson, Hardin and Orange counties.

Arrested and named in the indictment were:

• Brandon Robinson, 33, of Beaumont
• Gedrick Morrissey, 27, of Beaumont
• Roshawn Butler, 35, of Silsbee
• Rudy Polanco, 44, of Groves
• Jeremy Ross, 35, of Port Neches

The defendants were charged with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. They are scheduled to make initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith F. Giblin on those charges Tuesday.  If convicted, they face from 10 years to life in federal prison.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Joint Narcotics Task Force and the Beaumont Police Department are investigating. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher T. Rapp is prosecuting the case.