A man who shot and killed his roommate while under the influence of hallucinogenic mushrooms has been sentenced to federal prison, announced Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Nancy E. Larson.
Russell Alan Ragsdale, 25, has been in federal custody since his arrest on November 22, 2024. He pleaded guilty on April 29, 2025, to possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of a controlled substance. On July 17, 2025, Senior U.S. District Judge Barbara M.G. Lynn sentenced Ragsdale to 66 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, Ragsdale was arrested on February 3, 2022, in Seagoville for the felony murder of his roommate. He told law enforcement that his roommate had attacked him and claimed he “shot him many times” in self-defense.
Officers at the scene recovered three firearms from the residence, including a 10mm Glock handgun and an AR-15 rifle. They also seized nearly two grams of hallucinogenic mushrooms. A review of Ragsdale’s phone showed drug use dating back to November 2021 and confirmed the purchase and use of hallucinogenic mushrooms on February 2, 2022.
As part of his plea agreement, Ragsdale admitted to being legally intoxicated from hallucinogens when he possessed the 10mm Glock.
At sentencing, Judge Lynn determined that Ragsdale failed to present adequate evidence supporting his self-defense claim, concluding the victim’s death was a result of Ragsdale’s actions.
Ragsdale remains in custody and will be transferred to the Bureau of Prisons.
The case was investigated by the FBI Dallas Field Office and the Dallas Police Department, with support from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Seagoville Police Department, and the Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jongwoo Chung prosecuted the case.
