A Fort Worth father, David Devaney Sr., who conspired with his son to deal methamphetamine was sentenced last week to 40 years in federal prison.
Devaney Sr., age 59, and his son, David Devaney Jr., age 36, opted for a bench trial and were found guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
Devaney Jr. is slated to be sentenced on May 4. Co-conspirator Cory Litts, 36, pleaded guilty to the same charged in October 2022 and was sentenced in April to more than 22 years in prison.
According to court documents, the investigation into the elder Devaney began in June 2022, when a cooperating defendant identified the elder Devaney as a methamphetamine distributor.
Later that month, law enforcement received a 911 call about a 64-year-old woman who was shot and killed in Burleson, Texas. Surveillance video showed that Devaney Sr.’s vehicle was involved in the incident, which was thought to be a drug deal gone bad.
The deceased woman was an innocent bystander.
Officers tracked the vehicle to a hotel parking lot, where they frisked the driver, Litts, and found a plastic baggy containing 115 grams of methamphetamine and a digital scale concealed inside his clothing.
Officers then approached Devaney Sr., who was sitting on the passenger’s side of the vehicle, and observed him throw a shaving kit bag into a nearby bush. Inside the bag, officers found more than a kilogram of methamphetamine and a substantial amount of U.S. currency. They frisked Devaney, a ten-time convicted felon, and found a .40 caliber Smith & Wesson pistol tucked into his waistband.
Both men were arrested and transported to the Burleson police department.
That same evening, Devaney Jr., was also arrested in connection with the shooting in Burleson.
In an interview with law enforcement, Devaney Jr. denied involvement with the shooting, but admitted, “obviously, there’s been drugs.” He said his dad “just went off the deep end… and he started selling drugs,” and claimed his father “just kept sucking me in.”
The state has filed capital murder charges against both Devaneys and several other individuals for their alleged roles in the Burleson shooting.