A Timpson, Texas man (Shelby County) has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking and firearms violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.
Austin Yarbrough, 31, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone sentenced Yarbrough to 188 months in federal prison on August 7, 2024.
From 2021 through 2023, law enforcement investigated a drug trafficking organization operating in East Texas. Yarbrough, identified as a member of this organization, was involved in distributing methamphetamine and trafficking firearms. He received methamphetamine from co-conspirators and distributed it in the Timpson area. Law enforcement operations led to multiple purchases of methamphetamine and firearms from Yarbrough, including a modified .45 caliber rifle.
Further investigation revealed Yarbrough's previous felony convictions, including possession of a controlled substance, burglary of a building, and bail jumping. As a convicted felon, Yarbrough is prohibited from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition.
The case was part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, aimed at reducing violent crime through collaborative efforts. The investigation involved the Texas Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Angelina County Sheriff's Office, Drug Enforcement Administration, and FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald S. Carter prosecuted the case.
