A man and woman from Jefferson County, Texas, have been indicted on federal drug trafficking charges, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs for the Eastern District of Texas.
Starr Ann Brocato, 34, of Nederland, and John Wayne Brooks, 47, of Port Neches are accused of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. The indictment alleges their involvement in distributing methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas and other locations between September and November 2025.
If found guilty, both defendants could face life sentences in federal prison.
The prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159. The HSTF is a collaboration among government agencies aimed at combating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, as well as human smuggling and trafficking groups operating in the United States and internationally. According to the announcement: "Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders." The statement also notes that particular attention is given to crimes involving children.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is leading the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Lee is prosecuting the case.
The announcement emphasizes that "A federal indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law."
