Friday, June 24, 2005

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Local gridiron star nabbed in drug bust

By LEE WILLIAMS
lwilliams@TheCitizenNews.com
and MICHAEL BOYLAN
mboylan@TheCitizenNews.com

A former Starr’s Mill football star and senior starting cornerback for Georgia Tech was arrested Tuesday in Atlanta and charged in connection with operating a Fresno, Calif.-based marijuana distribution operation.

Reuben Houston, 22, of Peachtree City, was nabbed as a result of a year-long investigation into the Oscar Rosales drug trafficking organization. Officials say Rosales had been trafficking marijuana across the U.S. over the last 10 years and Houston allegedly was assisting Rosales efforts, Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Escobar indicated in a prepared statement.

“A federal criminal complaint filed in Fresno alleges that Houston conspired to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute nearly 100 pounds of marijuana valued at approximately $60,000,” Escobar said. “According to court documents, Houston was to be the recipient of 100 pounds of marijuana fronted to him by Oscar Rosales, 39, of Fresno, and the owner of Exclusive Sounds, a stereo business located at 4376 W. Shaw Ave. in Fresno. At Rosales’ direction, one of Rosales’ couriers delivered the marijuana to Rosales’ nephew, Anthony Baltazar, 22, of Turlock, Calif. in Atlanta. Baltazar then drove the load of marijuana to the Georgia Tech campus to meet with his connection, Houston, and complete the delivery.”

Patricia Houston of Peachtree City declined to comment on the matter when reached at her home. However, Allison George, spokeswoman for Georgia Tech Sports Department, said Houston has been disciplined since the ordeal.

“He’s been suspended from the team and suspended from school,” George said of Houston, who was a proposed second round NFL draft pick.

The Fresno Methamphetamine Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service, Fresno police, Fresno County Sheriff’s Department, Madera County Sheriff’s Department, Merced County Sheriff’s Department, California Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement and California Highway Patrol is investigating the case that so far has culminated in the seizure of nearly 600 pounds of pot and 15 arrests.

Prior to his run-in with the law, Houston was a two-year starter for Tech with seven career interceptions, 151 tackles and 14 pass breakups.

He was named ACC Defensive Back of the Week twice in his collegiate career and also was named to the ACC All-Freshman team by The Sporting News in 2002.

Houston also was a star in track and field. As a student at Starr’s Mill High School, he was a two-time state champion in the triple jump and was a former All ACC triple jumper for the Tech track team.