A Little Elm man, Tyler Joseph Gatten, 33, was sentenced to 300 months, or 25 years, in federal prison, U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs announced. U.S. District Judge Sean D. Jordan imposed the sentence on October 28, 2026, after Gatten pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine.
According to information presented in court, Gatten led a conspiracy that used drones to smuggle methamphetamine and cellular phones into Texas state prisons. The drugs and phones were resold to inmates by gang members, according to the court information. The case was part of an investigation into drone drops at a Texas Department of Criminal Justice facility in the Eastern District of Texas.
While he was held before trial, Gatten was indicted in a second drug conspiracy case. Prosecutors said that case involved inmates and corrupt correctional officers who smuggled phones and synthetic drugs into federal holding facilities by mailing drug-soaked paper disguised as legal mail. The case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative.