2 Fort Worth-area residents sentenced to 27 and 13 years in federal prison for their roles in a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy

FORT WORTH, Texas — Two Fort Worth-area men were sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge Reed C. O’Connor to serve lengthy federal prison sentences for their roles in a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy.

These sentences were announced by U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.  This case was investigated by the following agencies:  Drug Enforcement Administration; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Texas Department of Public Safety; and the Fort Worth Police Department.

Matthew Rutledge, 33, was sentenced to 27 years in federal prison, and Joel Prickett, 37, was sentenced to 160 months in federal prison.  Each pleaded guilty last year to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine.

According to documents filed in the case, since about 2014, Rutledge and Prickett distributed methamphetamine to others.  A total of 29 defendants were charged in that case; 28 have been convicted, and most of those have been sentenced.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn Smith, Northern District of Texas, was in charge of the prosecution.