Five individuals involved in a Lubbock drug trafficking operation have been sentenced to a total of 91 years in federal prison for distributing fentanyl and methamphetamine, according to an announcement from United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould.
Adam Whitehead Baber, 45, received a sentence of 228 months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Jessica Clauson, 43, was sentenced to 240 months on similar charges. Both are residents of Lubbock.
Three additional members of the group were also sentenced. Sean Burns, 43, was given a sentence of 204 months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. Charles Srnek, also known as “Dreds,” 38, received a sentence of 360 months for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Kiyle Jackson, 33, was sentenced to 60 months for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
Court documents indicate that beginning in early 2024, the defendants traveled out of state to obtain large quantities of fentanyl for distribution in Lubbock. Investigators determined that they would purchase up to 10,000 pills at a time—referred to by the group as “yachts” of fentanyl—and were responsible for distributing over 100,000 pills and approximately 20 pounds of methamphetamine within the city.
In January 2024, Baber and Burns were arrested in New Mexico while transporting nearly 1,700 fentanyl pills intended for Lubbock. In May that year, law enforcement searched the residence shared by Clauson and Srnek and found significant amounts of both drugs along with four firearms. Jackson was apprehended during a traffic stop in July with additional fentanyl pills.
United States District Judge James Wesley Hendrix handed down each sentence.
The investigation involved multiple agencies including the Lubbock Anti-Gang unit (TAG), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Caprock High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), Lubbock Police Department and Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephen Rancourt.
