TEXARKANA, Texas -- An indictment Recently unsealed in a Texarkana federal court accuses three family members and two others of conspiring to traffic methamphetamine.
The indictment accuses Nathan Paul Hart, Lillard Charles Hart, Anwan Duffey, Adrianna Smith-Hart and Rafael Aguila Jr. of conspiracy beginning in or before August 2019 in the Texarkana Division of the Eastern District of Texas. Count two of the indictment accuses all of the defendants of carrying a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.
Counts three and four accuse Nathan Hart of obstruction of justice by allegedly attempting to "alter, destroy, mutilate and conceal" messages and a cell phone "with the intent to impair its integrity and availability for use in an official proceeding, that is the criminal prosecution of Nathan Hart's drug trafficking activities" on May 4 and May 12.
The government is seeking forfeiture of a Glock pistol and ammunition and $22,680 in currency.
If convicted of conspiracy, the defendants face federal prison time and a fine. If found to have trafficked 50 grams or more of meth or 500 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine, the defendants face up to life in prison and a fine up to $10 million.
The punishment range and fine may increase if the defendants have prior violent or drug-related convictions and may decrease if the defendants are found to have trafficked a lesser amount of drugs.
The weapons charge is punishable by five years to life in prison and any sentence imposed must be served consecutively to any other term. If any of the defendants has been previously convicted of carrying a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, they could face a minimum of 25 years if convicted in the current case.
Nathan Hart faces up to 20 years in federal prison, a fine up to $250,000, or both if convicted of obstruction.
All of the defendants have appeared in court and entered pleas of not guilty to the charges. The cases are pending before U.S. District Judge Robert Schroeder III.