Source: US FBI
A co-conspirator of a former Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) corrections officer was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison for her role in supplying methamphetamine to inmates in the Clements Unit of the TDCJ prison located in Potter County, announced Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Nancy E. Larson.
Veronica Wertz, 49, was indicted in November 2024 and pled guilty in March 2025 to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine for several months in 2023. Court documents reflect that Wertz was romantically involved with an inmate located in the William Clements Unit of the TDCJ prison in Potter County who was working with former prison guard Ricky Eugene Hall to bring drugs into the prison.
Wertz admitted that she received packages of drugs through the mail in Amarillo to be taken into the prison for distribution to the inmate. Law enforcement agents found text messages of Wertz and Hall on both of their cell phones showing their mutual involvement in the narcotics distribution.
Court records reveal that Hall admitted, when interviewed by FBI agents, that he would communicate with inmates via prepaid burner phones to coordinate “drops” or “plays.” Inmates would arrange for an outside narcotics supplier to meet with Hall at various locations in Amarillo, where Hall would receive pre-packaged contraband. Hall would then conceal the contraband in his correctional uniform vest and leave the package at a predetermined location in the facility, such as the laundry, kitchen, or with cleaning staff. Hall also admitted that he maintained a storage unit to store contraband. When law enforcement agents searched the storage unit, they uncovered more than 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, cell phones, and other items intended for distribution inside the Clements unit prison.
Hall pled guilty to methamphetamine distribution in January 2025 and was sentenced on June 9, 2025, to 97 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk. On July 9, 2025, Judge Kacsmaryk sentenced Veronica Wertz to 57 months in federal prison.
“This case highlights the stellar work of numerous law enforcement agencies working together to halt a stealthy contraband smuggling conspiracy shamefully led by a corrections officer occupying a position of trust,” said Acting United States Attorney Nancy Larson. “We are proud of the investigative work in this case and that we brought those involved to justice.”
“The defendant took part in a conspiracy to smuggle drugs and other contraband into a state prison. This resulted in the distribution of prohibited items to inmates,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock. “We would like to thank our law enforcement partners for assisting us with this investigation. This collaborative effort resulted in successfully ending the illegal activity and holding the offenders accountable.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Texas Department of Public Safety, TDCJ – Office of Inspector General, Amarillo Police Department, and United States Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anna Marie Bell and Joshua Frausto prosecuted the case.