LUBBOCK, Texas —
    Ten defendants have been charged in a federal indictment with felony offenses stemming from their role in a cocaine and crack cocaine distribution conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.
    Most of the defendants, from the Lubbock, Texas, area were arrested last week in a joint operation led by the Texas Department of Public Safety, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Lubbock and Terry County Sheriff’s Offices, the Lubbock Police Department, and the Hockley, Lamb, and Lubbock County District Attorney’s Offices.  The U.S. Marshals Service arrested Tabatha Williams in Fort Myers, Florida.  Two defendants, Joshua Cubit and Mackie Washington, were in state custody on unrelated charges. 
    Some detention hearings are set for Wednesday, October 7, 2015.  A November 2, 2015, trial date, before U.S. District Judge Sam R. Cummings, has been set.
    The 24-count indictment, just unsealed, charges each of the following with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances:
            Timothy Paul Adame, 28
            

Jaime Lee Escalante, 33
            

Jerry Don Watley, II, 37
           

Joshua Deshawn Cubit, 27
            

Freddrick Lamont Huey, 33
            

Tyrone Bernard Williams, 32
         

Dianne M. Winn, 40
           

Mackie Lee Washington, Sr., 58
            

Tabatha Roxana Williams, 44
            

Juan Bernard Ledesma, 27
   

In addition, Adame is charged with one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base; one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine; and one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
    Watley is also charged with one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine; nine counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; one count of possession with intent to distribute 280 grams or more of cocaine base; and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
    Huey is also charged with two counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine base.
    Tyrone Williams is also charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
    Winn is also charged with one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base.
    Washington is also charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base.
    Tabatha Williams is also charged with three counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base.
    A federal indictment is an accusation by a grand jury.  A defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty.  If convicted, however, the conspiracy count carries a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a $1 million fine.  The other drug counts carry a maximum statutory penalty ranging from 20 years to life imprisonment.  The firearm count carries a statutory penalty of not less than five years or more than life in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.
    Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Haag is in charge of the prosecution.