UPSHUR COUNTY, Texas — Five people have been sentenced to prison in Upshur County for a drug operation.
According to Upshur County District Attorney's Office, five individuals accused of distributing large quantities of methamphetamine have been sentenced. The investigation began after an undercover operation on Feb. 2, 2024, where police determined Cameron Scott Spears, 38, had been dealing meth in the Union Grove Community for a long period of time.
"The investigation took a long time and a lot of patience in order to penetrate this operation," Billy W. Byrd, Criminal District Attorney for Upshur County, said. "We learned that many other known criminals and drug dealers were also hanging out on this property and stolen property was being hidden from other thefts and burglaries. This property has several acres with woods and mobile homes and campers spread throughout."
Prior to jury selection on Nov. 12, Spears pled guilty to two charges of delivery of a controlled substance and two charges of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.
Spears was sentenced to 20 years in prison, the maximum sentence, for two delivery cases where he sold meth to a confidential informant on video. He was additionally sentenced to 40 years in prison for possession with intent to deliver.
Four other individuals were arrested at the scene where the search warrant was executed:
- Jimmy Wayne Skinner, 51. Sentenced to 99 years for possession of a firearm by a felon.
- Amada Lynn Gage, 41. Sentenced to 18 months in state jail for possession of a controlled substance.
- Hailey Renee Shaddix, 33. Sentenced to 15 months in state jail for possession of a controlled substance.
- Benjamin Heath Evans, 44. Sentenced to 15 months in state jail for possession of a controlled substance.
"I would like to thank the Upshur County Sheriff's Office for thoroughly investigating this case; especially, our narcotic officers for the many hours of work," Byrd said.