Former Houston Educator Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking

SAN ANTONIO - A former Houston Independent School District teacher's aide was sentenced in a federal court in San Antonio on Wednesday to 24 months in prison for her role in a drug trafficking organization, announced U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Justin R. Simmons.

According to court documents, Tonya Vonci Middleton-Harris, 57, of Houston, conspired in June 2021 to traffic 992.4 grams of 100% methamphetamine and 526 grams of cocaine. Texas Department of Public Safety agents conducted a traffic stop on Middleton-Harris after she was observed receiving two bags of narcotics from drug trafficker, Terry Clay. Clay was also arrested after being found to possess $11,213 in U.S. currency and a pill bottle containing 11.2 grams of oxycodone pills.

Middleton-Harris pleaded guilty on Oct. 8, 2024, to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The following co-defendants have already been sentenced in this case:

• Timothy Bland, 235 months in federal prison
• Crandall Jones, 63 months in federal prison
• Luis Tovias, 132 months in federal prison
• Valerie Nichole Garcia, 84 months in federal prison
• Pamela Felita Breeding, 140 months in federal prison
• John Russup, 144 months in federal prison
• Dana Harrington, 40 months in federal prison
• Michelle Katherine Bilskey, sentenced to time served (1,050 days)

The sentence hearing for Clay is set for March 11. U.S. District Judge Jason Pulliam presides over the case.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, Texas Department of Public Safety, and Gonzales County Sheriff's Office investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Spears prosecuted the case.

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