Houston woman sentenced to 24 months for drug trafficking involvement—
SAN ANTONIO, Texas — A former Houston Independent School District teacher’s aide has been sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for her role in a drug trafficking organization, according to the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas.
Tonya Vonci Middleton-Harris, 57, of Houston, was involved in a conspiracy in June 2021 to traffic 992.4 grams of 100% methamphetamine and 526 grams of cocaine, as stated in court documents. The Texas Department of Public Safety conducted a traffic stop on Middleton-Harris after she was seen receiving two bags of narcotics from drug trafficker Terry Clay. Clay was also arrested and found with $11,213 in U.S. currency and a pill bottle containing 11.2 grams of oxycodone pills.
Middleton-Harris pleaded guilty on October 8, 2024, to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Several co-defendants have already been sentenced in this case, including Timothy Bland to 235 months, Crandall Jones to 63 months, Luis Tovias to 132 months, Valerie Nichole Garcia to 84 months, Pamela Felita Breeding to 140 months, John Russup to 144 months, Dana Harrington to 40 months, and Michelle Katherine Bilskey to time served (1,050 days).
The sentencing hearing for Clay is scheduled for March 11, with U.S. District Judge Jason Pulliam presiding over the case. The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Texas Department of Public Safety, and Gonzales County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Spears prosecuted the case.
