A 37-year old truck driver from Odessa, Texas, could be spending the next 10 years sitting in a prison cell instead of the cab of his truck following his guilty plea to drug delivery charges. The defendant was caught as a result of an investigation led by law enforcement agencies from several states and the federal government into a drug smuggling operation with ties to Mexico.
According to the charges, the defendant transported legitimate cargo across the country; however, cocaine was hidden in his truck on trips from Arizona to Ohio. Cash from the sale of drugs was hidden in his truck for the return trip to Arizona. The trucker’s secret cargo caught the attention of law enforcement when he tried to recruit another driver to work with him. The other driver soon became an FBI informant.
Law enforcement agents arrested the trucker a year ago while he was returning from a trip to Ohio with $300,000 hidden in the truck. He could be facing a prison sentence of up to 10 years following his plea to the drug charge of conspiracy to distribute cocaine.
Drug offenses usually involve a search by law enforcement for evidence. A criminal defense attorney can help the defendant by reviewing the procedures police used to obtain the evidence prosecutors intend to use in the case. A drug charge defense strategy that attacks the legality of the search and seizure could be beneficial. Criminal defense attorneys must be knowledgeable of the criminal laws pertaining to drug offenses and have the experience to know how to use them to the advantage of their clients.
Source: KWTX-TV, “Texas trucker pleads guilty to role in multistate drug ring,” Nov. 21, 2012