East Texas Law Enforcement Agencies and DEA partner work together to dismantle Methamphetamine and Fentanyl Distribution Ring

Official Press Release
Upshur County Sheriff’s Office
Sheriff Larry Webb

In December of 2023, an investigation into the drug trafficking operations of Cole Seabolt was initiated by an Upshur County Sheriff’s Office Deputy assigned to the DEA Task Force. Cole Seabolt is known as a drug supplier in Upshur County. The investigation quickly revealed a drug trafficking organization with a long-standing issue that have plagued Upshur and other surrounding counties with a high influx of methamphetamine and fentanyl. The DEA, US Postal Inspectors, Gregg County Sheriff’s Office and Upshur County Sheriff’s Office initiated a comprehensive investigation into the drug organization, identifying numerous suppliers to include a couple of DEA priority targets identified as Michael Dewayne Jones, a/k/a Sleepy and Daetrum Odum.

After years of work, the investigation concluded in January of 2026 with the arrests of Seth and Cole Seabolt, Michael Jones aka “Sleepy” and Daetrum Odum. The other members of the distribution organization have also now been arrested. During the investigation, investigators seized 9 firearms, 1.2 kilograms of methamphetamine, 344 grams of fentanyl powder, 678 grams of counterfeit oxycodone pills and more importantly, the complete dismantlement of the organization.

As law enforcement agencies in East Texas continue to use all resources available to us to keep this poison out of our counties, this investigation has shown that we are working together to accomplish this common goal. The Upshur County Sheriff’s Office would like to “Thank” the following agencies that assisted with this long and time consuming investigation.

DEA, US Postal Inspectors, Texas Department of Public Safety, Gregg County Sheriff’s Office, Titus County Sheriff’s Office, Mt. Pleasant PD, Daingerfield PD, Henderson PD TFO, and Gladewater PD.