Local Drug Dealers go to Prison
Aransas County Attorney's Office
ROCKPORT, TEXAS (News Release) - Over the past couple of months, four local drug dealers have been sentenced to prison.
THE STATE OF TEXAS VS. BRIAN DAMON SMITH:
On April 17, 2026, Brian Damon Smith, 52, pled to 20 years in prison for possessing methamphetamine with intent to deliver. The evidence reviewed by the court indicated that during a traffic stop, the defendant threw a meth pipe over his car. In Smith’s vehicle was a bag of 56g of methamphetamine under the driver’s floor doormat. Smith told officers he would give the methamphetamine to women in exchange for sex.
THE STATE OF TEXAS VS. ALLEN SCHAFFER:
On January 14, 2026, Allen Schaffer, 38, known as “Capone,” was found guilty by an Aransas County Jury of Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Deliver 4-200g. The evidence showed that an officer was on patrol and saw Schaffer driving. The officer knew Schaffer to have open warrants. Prior to towing the vehicle, an inventory was done of the vehicle. A scale was in the driver’s side door pocket. Stuck under the lower dash console was a piece of plastic baggie that ended up being approximately 12.7g of methamphetamine. A punishment hearing was held on April 22, 2026 in which Judge Patrick Flanigan sentenced him to 30 years in prison. At the sentencing hearing, the State put on evidence implicating Schaffer in a burglary, forgery and multiple thefts, as well as other drug cases.
THE STATE OF TEXAS VS. BRAXTON MASON
On June 10, 2026, Braxton Mason, 25, pled guilty to possessing multiple substances with intent to deliver, including cocaine and methamphetamine. He pled to 18 years in prison for those charges and to 7 years for possessing a firearm while being a felon. The evidence stipulated to showed that Mason was stopped for failing to use his turn signal. When Mason exited the vehicle, drug paraphernalia fell out of his pockets. When the officers went to cuff Mason, he took off running and fell in a ditch. In his vehicle were vapes, edible mushrooms, jars of methamphetamine, and cocaine in multiple baggies. The gun was found hidden in the vehicle.
THE STATE OF TEXAS VS. MICHAEL ESCOBEDO VARGAS
On June 24, 2026, Michael Escobedo Vargas, 42, pled to 12 years in prison for possessing methamphetamine with intent to deliver. The stipulated evidence showed that Vargas was the passenger in a car that was stopped for failing to use his blinker. The driver of the car gave Police permission to search the car, and on the floorboard directly by Vargas’ feet a small amount of black tar heroin was found. After being placed under arrest Vargas was transported to Aransas County Jail, and during a standard strip search at the jail a baggie containing over 6 grams of methamphetamines was locate in his anal cavity. Vargas told the jailers, “I was only holding that for someone else.”
