A third-grade teacher in Houston has been arrested on charges of conspiring with a drug trafficking organization while on the job. Jessica Ferguson, 34, was teaching in the Sheldon Independent School District when law enforcement officials apprehended her alongside 17 others during a drug investigation.
According to reports, Ferguson was allegedly making phone calls related to illicit activities with children audible in the background. Alamdar Hamdani, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Texas, addressed the situation during a press conference, highlighting the seriousness of her involvement.
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Her arrest is part of a larger effort by the Justice Department aimed at curbing violent crime in Houston. Around 300 officers participated in the operation to dismantle a gang suspected of trafficking large quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine throughout the area.
Among the arrested was Alfred Jacoby Green, 35, believed to be the gang leader. FBI Special Agent Doug Williams remarked that these arrests could shed light on various cases, including unresolved murders linked to the “Rich Kingz” gang, known for its violent crimes.
U.S. attorney Hamdani emphasized the devastating impact of drug trafficking, stating, “It takes lives through violence that goes hand in hand with drug trafficking… and it ravages communities.” The Rich Kingz gang is also thought to have connections with other criminal networks operating in Houston.
In recent efforts to tackle violent crime, authorities have apprehended more than 65 offenders, seized over 130 firearms, and confiscated approximately $1.3 million within the last two years.