District Attorney Greg Willis announced today that a jury has handed down a 55-year prison sentence to Curtis Richard Hines, a 31-year-old resident of McKinney, following his conviction on multiple drug-related charges. Hines was found guilty of Possession with Intent to Deliver Cocaine, MDMA, and THC with a Deadly Weapon, capping a legal saga that unfolded over the course of several years.
"Poison pushers profiting off of people's addicted misery are a menace to society. This man has been a notorious and dangerously armed dope dealer throughout the Metroplex for the last five years, despite being sent to prison for it once already. This jury's verdict sends the message that we will not tolerate poison pushers profiting off of ruined lives in Collin County," said Willis, the District Attorney, after the sentencing.
The case against Hines began in the fall of 2022 when the McKinney Police Department's narcotics detectives initiated surveillance on Hines due to suspicions of his involvement in drug dealing. On November 9, 2022, Officer Cary Wittwer of the McKinney PD conducted a traffic stop on Hines, during which Hines granted consent for a search of his vehicle. The search uncovered multiple bags of marijuana that were packaged for sale.
Subsequently, the McKinney PD executed a search warrant on Hines' residence, revealing a staggering cache of illegal substances and paraphernalia. Among the findings were 275 grams of cocaine, 214 grams of mushrooms, 51 pounds of marijuana, 1,845 grams of THC gummies, 27 grams of THC wax, 63 grams of THC cartridges, and 9 grams of MDMA. Additionally, detectives discovered various packaging materials, labels, scales, and three cell phones.
The search of the residence also yielded three firearms, including an Uzi and a short-barreled rifle with a high-capacity drum magazine, raising concerns about the potential for violence associated with Hines' drug activities. Forensic examinations of Hines' cell phones by DPS Special Agent Ronnie Rapert uncovered a trove of incriminating evidence, including thousands of photos of drugs, money, and firearms, as well as hundreds of text messages detailing drug deals across the DFW area. This evidence played a pivotal role in the prosecution's case against Hines.
During the sentencing phase, prosecutors presented Hines' extensive history of drug possession and sales. In 2011, Hines received probation for possessing less than 1 gram of methamphetamine, but his involvement in illegal activities persisted. In 2014, he violated probation and was sentenced to 9 months in state jail. The pattern continued in 2018, with multiple arrests for Possession with Intent to Deliver Controlled Substances, resulting in a 5-year prison term.
Considering Hines' criminal history and the gravity of the current charges, the jury deliberated and ultimately sentenced him to a 55-year prison term, aiming to curb his prolific drug-dealing career and safeguard the community from his dangerous activities.
