“We have a clear message for those who believe they have escaped justice: We do not forget,” asserted Ogg. “Furthermore, we are closely monitoring anyone involved in smuggling illegal items into the jail.”
While awaiting trial in jail, Owens orchestrated a plot to sell drugs to fellow inmates. He has now pleaded guilty to engaging in organized criminal activity and has been sentenced to 50 years in prison. Owens’s scheme garnered significant media coverage due to his accumulation of nearly $30,000 in his jail commissary account through drug sales. The District Attorney’s Office has seized the confiscated funds.
In 2022, Owens also admitted guilt for assaulting his girlfriend, which led to a charge of aggravated assault of a family member. He received a 50-year sentence for this incident as well.
Assistant District Attorney Sepi Zimmer, a chief in the Major Offenders Division of the DA’s Office, took charge of the murder case. ADA Kimberly Smith, who heads the DA’s Public Corruption Division, supervised the prosecution of the jail smuggling case.
According to Zimmer, the pursuit of justice for the victims and their families was of utmost importance. Not only does it send a message to the defendants that they will be pursued regardless of the time that has passed since the crime was committed, but it also demonstrates to the families that their loved ones and their cases are never forgotten. The commitment to seeking justice for the victims remains unwavering, even in cold cases.
According to Smith, inmates at the Harris County Jail must realize that engaging in the illegal activities of smuggling contraband and selling drugs within the prison walls carries severe consequences, including the possibility of long-term imprisonment.
Smith, the prosecutor, emphasized that the defendant attempted to make money by smuggling drugs into the prison. Not only did he engage in criminal activities while free, but he also continued to do so while incarcerated. The authorities successfully ensured that he faced the consequences of his actions.
Owens is not able to appeal any of the three convictions or the punishments. The three prison sentences will be served at the same time.