Local attorney indicted by federal grand jury

Bryan Lee Simmons, 49, of Cass County was indicted March 18 by a federal grand jury and charged with conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and using a firearm during and in relation to drug trafficking. Simmons was ordered detained pending trial.

According to the indictment, from at least July 2019 and continuing to about August 2019, Simmons agreed with others to distribute methamphetamine. Specifically, on August 29, 2019, he possessed methamphetamine that he intended to distribute. During and in relation to those crimes, he possessed a pistol.

If convicted, Simmons faces a minimum of 5 years and as much as life in federal prison.

This case is being investigated by the Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Rangers Division with assistance from the Cass County District Attorney’s Office and the Cass County Sheriff ’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan R. Hornok.

Simmons, an attorney in Cass County, was arrested in August 2019 and taken into custody at the Cass County Jail in Linden for allegedly bringing methamphetamine into the Cass County jail.

Simmons had been under surveillance for about a month and was taken into custody by Texas Rangers.

The attorney allegedly had about two grams of methamphetamine on his person when he attempted to enter the Cass County jail, according to Cass County District Attorney Courtney Shelton. A search of Simmons’ truck uncovered additional methamphetamine and a firearm.

Simmons was arrested on charges of possession of a prohibited substance in a correctional facility, possession of a controlled substance one to four grams and unlawfully carrying a weapon.

Fifth District Judge Bill Miller set Simmons’ bail at $25,000 for the charge related to bringing meth into the jail, at $25,000 for the drugs allegedly found in Simmons’ truck and $10,000 on the weapons charge. Miller ordered Simmons to submit to random drug testing and ordered that he participate in a drug treatment program.