United States Attorney
Northern District of Texas

1100 Commerce St., 3rd Fl.
Dallas, Texas 75242-1699

Telephone (214) 659-8600
Fax (214) 767-0978

FEDERAL JURY CONVICTS
OPERATION “FISH BOWL” DEFENDANT

Defendant Faces Up to Life Imprisonment Without Parole

United States Attorney Richard B. Roper announced that following a one-day trial before the Honorable John McBryde, United States District Judge, a federal jury in Fort Worth convicted Roderick Shermone Howard, a/k/a “Big Rod,” on one count of an indictment charging unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Prior to trial, Howard pled guilty to two counts of the indictment charging possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver cocaine and heroin. Howard, age 32, faces up to life imprisonment. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

Roderick Shermone Howard was arrested by officers of the Fort Worth Police Department and agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation on May 17, 2006, following a lengthy investigation of drug distribution networks in an area of southeast Fort Worth known as the “Fish Bowl,” by the Fort Worth Safe Street Task Force. That task force focused on drug distribution networks of various sets of the Crips street gang, which have a reputation of violence and are known for operating organized drug distribution networks. While executing federal and state warrants during the third week of May this year, law enforcement arrested 18 people on federal charges and several others on state or local warrants. Since that time, an additional 12 more defendants have been arrested on federal charges. Large quantities of cash, drugs and firearms have been seized and the investigation is ongoing.

In August and September 2005, an undercover officer with the Fort Worth Police Department made undercover drug (cocaine) buys from Howard. When Howard was arrested at his home in May on charges outlined in a federal indictment, a search of the apartment found
approximately 41.2 grams of heroin and two handguns --- a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun and a .380 caliber handgun.

Howard is the first defendant in the “Fish Bowl” operation to go to trial. Thirteen other defendants have pled guilty to various drug and firearms charges and await sentencing.

U.S. Attorney Roper praised the excellent cooperative investigative work of the Fort Worth Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael J. Worley and Chris Wolfe.

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