A mother and her son have been sentenced by a federal judge to a combined time of 18 years in prison for selling methamphetamine on the darkweb. It appears that the mother worked with hers son.
Mother and Son Sentenced
The U.S. District Judge Mark Pittman sentenced the 61 year old Mother Mary Jane McIntyre to 72 months (6 years) in prison for possession of a controlled substance ( methamphetamine ) with intent to distribute. In April 2020, U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor sentenced McIntyre’s son, Sean Alexander Harris, to 144 months (12 years) in prison for a similar charge.
Investigation started in March 2020, when the North Texas Parcel Task Force found “numerous suspicious packages originating from the Dallas – Fort Worth area.” According to the complaint written by Special Agent Duane Vasquez of the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, he said that the packages had characteristics similar to packages linked to dark web activity. The packages listed a fake company’s address as the return address. The investigators found five grams of methamphetamine in one of the packages.
Using Open-source intelligence gathering investigators were somehow able identify the person who had dropped the packages off at the Post Office as Harris. His social media username was identified as @versacesean (Instagram and an actor profile on Backstage.com).
Government Investigators were able to conduct physical surveillance of Harris as he received packages of methamphetamine from California and mailed the packages of meth and marijuana to customers all around the United States. Harris was linked to 8,400 packages sent between October 2019 and October 2020. The packages he sent contained an estimated total of more than 75 pounds of meth.
The investigators found out he was working with his mother.
Suspects mistakenly believe they can remain hidden in the shadows of the dark web. Postal Inspectors’ objectives are to rid the mail of illicit drug trafficking, preserve the integrity of the mail, and, most importantly, provide a safe environment for postal employees and the American public. The sentencing handed down today should serve as a reminder to other perpetrators engaged in this type of criminal activity that we will ensure they are brought to justice. We thank the USPS-OIG and DEA for their partnership, in addition to the U.S. Attorney’s Office who remain a steadfast protector of the public.
Thomas Noyes, Inspector in Charge of the Fort Worth Division