Published: March 20, 2008 06:13 pm            

Federal hearings net number of Orange County offenders

By Ashley Sanders

The Orange Leader



BEAUMONT — Several Orange County residents and some who were just passing through had a busy day in federal court Wednesday.

Derrick Jermond Collins, 30, of Orange was sentenced to 188 months in federal prison Wednesday for a December 2006 drug violation.

According to information presented in court, on Dec. 20, 2006, Collins and a co-defendant sold 1.28 grams of cocaine to an undercover officer in Orange. A search of Collins at the time of his arrest revealed he was in the possession of an additional 23.08 grams of cocaine and more than $3,000 in cash.

Collins was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 7, 2007.

A Gilmer man picked up by authorities in Orange Tuesday also made an appearance in a Beaumont federal courtroom Wednesday.

Milton Keith Bunn, 43, was indicted on March 12 and charged with three counts of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.

During his court appearance, United States Magistrate Judge Earl S. Hines ordered Bunn be detained until further proceedings. He was transferred by the U.S. Marshal's Service to the Marshall Division for a Detention Hearing.

If convicted, Bunn faces up to life in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

Another man apprehended in Orange County is also facing jail time.

Albert Lee Clark, 24, of Houston plead guilty Wednesday to a federal drug trafficking charge which occurred on Feb. 7, 2007 in Vidor.

According to court records, Clark was stopped by a Vidor Police officer for a routine traffic violation on Interstate 10. Clark reportedly gave the officer permission to search his vehicle, during which time more than 582 pounds of marijuana was discovered hidden in the bed of the truck.

Clark faces up to three years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000. A sentencing date has not been set at this time.

Orange County busts were not the only cases taken in federal court Wednesday.

Steven Ray Angelle, 31, of Nederland was indicted by a federal grand jury Wednesday for a drug violation.

According to the indictment, Angelle was arrested on Tuesday after selling approximately 65 grams of crack cocaine to an undercover officer in Port Arthur. Angelle was found to have approximately 200 grams of crack cocaine in his possession at the time of his arrest.

If convicted, Angelle faces up to life in federal prison and a fine of up to $4 million.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.