Buna Man Sentenced to More Than 17 Years in Federal Prison for Meth Trafficking

Image created by Rita Shipp

BEAUMONT, Texas — A Buna man with a history of drug convictions is headed back to federal prison after authorities say they uncovered a large stash of methamphetamine in Jasper County.

Billy Ray Robinson, Jr., 42, of Buna, was sentenced Wednesday, September 10, 2025, to 210 months (more than 17 years) in federal prison for distribution and possession of more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone handed down the sentence in Beaumont.

According to court records, in July 2024, investigators received information that Robinson was hiding meth on property near his Jasper County home. That tip led to the seizure of over 2,000 grams — more than four pounds — of methamphetamine.

Robinson is no stranger to federal prison. In 2015, he was convicted of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and had only recently been released on supervised federal probation when this latest bust occurred. Because of that prior case, Robinson’s supervised release has now been revoked, and he will serve an additional consecutive prison term on top of Wednesday’s sentence.

The case was investigated by the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Criminal Investigations Division and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Gaston.

Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs said the stiff sentence reflects a continued effort to fight meth trafficking in East Texas. “This case highlights how dangerous repeat offenders can be to our communities, and why it is so important that large quantities of meth like this are taken off the streets,” Combs said.