Carlos Guererro
St. Clair County Circuit Court Judge Jim Hill sentenced Carlos Barajas Guerrero, 34, to 25 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
St. Clair County District Attorney Richard Minor said Moody police discovered 53 packages containing almost 40 pounds (almost 18 kilos) of cocaine during a routine traffic stop along Interstate 20 in May 2008.
Minor said Leo Nunez, the driver of the Ford F450 where the cocaine was found, pleaded guilty to trafficking in cocaine earlier this year and is currently serving a life sentence. Nunez also received a $250,000 fine.
Minor said driver’s licenses seized at the time of the arrest listed an address for Nunez in San Bernardino, CA, and an address for Guerrero in Grandview, WA.
“To my understanding, they are here illegally and will be deported after serving their sentences,” he said.
It was not immediately known Friday where either man was originally from.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Officer Rusty Freeman with the Moody Police Department whose alertness to detail led to Thursday’s guilty plea,” Minor said.
Minor said Freeman stopped the vehicle because the vehicle had no tag.
“Unfortunately, the state criminal justice system is all too familiar with both illegal aliens and citizens who use our interstate system in distributing their illegal drugs,” he said. “As long as they do, this office will stand together with law enforcement in enforcing our laws and achieving convictions and prison sentences for those who choose to traffic and distribute illegal drugs.”
Minor said trafficking in cocaine is a Class A felony, punishable by 10 years to life in prison.
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