Former murderer arrested in Texas City for large-scale teen drug ring near schools

After a two-month investigation, the Galveston County Organized Crime Task Force, supported by the sheriff's SWAT unit, raided a house in the 1200 block of Appomattox Drive in Texas City on Aug. 18. Authorities confiscated roughly one kilogram of fentanyl pills that were brightly colored to look like ecstasy, along with THC wax, marijuana, THC vapes, promethazine and dozens of liquor bottles. Surveillance had captured what appeared to be teenagers purchasing the substances from the home, which sits close to Giles Middle School, College of the Mainland and two elementary schools.

Galveston Police Chief Doug Balli described the setup as a "full-service drug operation" that even accepted credit-card payments. The suspect, 50-year-old Jahml McDonald, who previously served 25 years for murder, was arrested and charged with two felony controlled-substance offenses; a judge set a combined $2 million bond. District Attorney Kenneth Cusick said the case would receive the full attention of his office and that prosecutors would seek the harshest possible sentence.