US Marshals Bust Meth Ring Posing as Granite Installation Business

ABILENE, TX -- Four men have been arrested after US Marshals bust methamphetamine ring that supplied Abilene and surrounding areas with kilos of meth. 

According to KTXS, on July 30, the United States Marshals arrested Michael Nelson, 32, after months of investigation. 

It began on April 12 when Julio Robles, 37, was arrested on methamphetamine charges. While in custody of the Abilene Police Department Robles told them that in August of 2018 that he met with Nelson and he tried to convince him to join the meth selling business. 

Then one month later he met Benito Herrera, 51, and his son Rick Ben Herrera, 25, who were Nelson's roommates. The four met and counted up nine kilos of meth in gallon zip lock baggies. One of those bags were was given to Robles and he was arrested with 70 grams of meth on September 17. 

On July 17 the FBI and the Taylor County Sheriff's Office received a tip about the Herreras transporting meth from Oak Cliff, TX. 

Deputies stopped the two and found 115 grams of meth. During the arrest the son, Rick, told authorities that there was more meth at their house and that they had been selling meth for several months. 

The deputies arrived to the gated community where the three lived and found 618 grams of meth and a "large amount of US currency." They also found two guns and a vehicle that was apparently used to transport meth. 

Nelson was then arrested after his phone was searched and authorities found "numerous text messages from Mike's Hot Line," selfies of Nelson with meth, and the Herrera's instructions about selling the meth. 

The Herrera's were working for Nelson at his granite installation business "All Star Granite." 

Robles is charged with multiple aggravated assault and federal drug charges. 

Rick Herrera is charged with manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance and federal drug charges. 

Benito Herrera is charged with driving while license invalid with a previous conviction and federal drug charges. 

Michael Nelson is charged with theft by check and federal drug charges.