Department of Justice

BEAUMONT, Texas– A Lufkin man has been sentenced to federal prison for a drug trafficking and firearms violation in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston today.

Tyson Spencer, 48, pleaded guilty on Feb. 14, 2022, to possession with intent to distribute synthetic marijuana and being a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 90 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Michael J. Truncale.

According to information presented in court, Lufkin police officers came in contact with Spencer while responding to a report of a residential theft. Spencer matched the description of the suspect and was searched for stolen items. During the search, officers discovered a firearm in Spencer’s backpack. Spencer admitted to being a convicted felon, having been previously convicted of murder, which would prohibit him from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition. Spencer was also in possession of a gallon-sized baggie containing synthetic marijuana. Spencer was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 19, 2020.

This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Lufkin Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald S. Carter.