Major Methamphetamine Trafficking Ring Leader and Founder of Aces and Eights Outlaw Motorcycle Gang Pleads Guilty

Topics:  Aces and Eights

U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Texas
December 3, 2009

LUBBOCK, TX—Bobby Duwayne Froman, of Levelland, Texas, the leader of a motorcycle gang that is a support club of the Bandidos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang (OMG), pleaded guilty this morning to his role as the leader and organizer of a large-scale methamphetamine trafficking organization that obtained large quantities of methamphetamine from California and distributed that methamphetamine throughout West Texas, announced U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks of the Northern District of Texas.

Specifically, Froman, 54, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Sam R. Cummings to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. He faces a maximum statutory sentence of life in prison and a $4 million fine. Under the terms of the plea agreement, however, Froman faces a sentence of 240 months in prison if the Court accepts the plea. Froman also agreed to forfeit the following to the U.S.: (1) real property situated at 109 Cactus Drive in Levelland; (2) real property situated at 111 Cactus Drive in Levelland; (3) a 2003 Chevy truck; (4) a 2000 Harley Davidson motorcycle; and (5) $900,000 in U.S. currency, in the form of a money judgment. Judge Cummings ordered a pre-sentence investigation report with sentencing to be scheduled after the completion of that report.

In October 2007, law enforcement initiated an investigation into the narcotics trafficking activities of Froman, a/k/a “Quick,” the founder of the Aces and Eights OMG, and others. A federal grand jury in Lubbock returned a 110-count federal indictment in July 2009 that charged 28 defendants, including sheriff deputies and members of the OMG, with conspiracy and various other narcotics and/or firearms offenses. The majority of defendants charged have pleaded guilty to their roles and are awaiting sentencing.

Froman recruited other conspirators, often members of the Aces and Eights OMG, to facilitate his methamphetamine trafficking. His co-conspirators would transport large amounts of cash from the Levelland and Lubbock, Texas, areas to Modesto, California, and surrounding locations, to purchase large quantities of methamphetamine. Froman’s co-conspirators would then transport the methamphetamine from California to Levelland, Texas, or the surrounding areas, for distribution throughout West Texas. Specifically, defendants Jamie Paul Nickell, Clifford Leroy Clark, Jeffrey Paul Bayer, and others were recruited by Froman and, under his instructions, transported cash from Levelland to Modesto. In California they acquired multi-pound quantities of methamphetamine that they transported or intended to transport back to Levelland, from David Lee Russell, Gary Duwayne Hegwood, and others. Upon arrival in Levelland, Froman and his co-conspirators mixed the methamphetamine with adulterants and dilutants, divided it into smaller quantities, and sold it to various individuals in the West Texas area. Conspirators used several residences/locations in Levelland and Lubbock to hide, weigh, package for distribution and distribute the methamphetamine.

The investigation is being conducted by the FBI, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the United States Marshal Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Hockley County District Attorney’s Office, the Levelland Police Department, the Lubbock Police Department, and the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys C. Richard Baker, Jeffrey R. Haag, and Denise Williams, of the Lubbock, Texas, U.S. Attorney’s Office, are prosecuting the case.