One of the couriers for a Tulsa man convicted of running an interstate marijuana distribution operation has accepted a plea deal. A news release from the region’s U.S. attorney’s office announced that the 54-year-old man entered a guilty plea for aiding a racketeering enterprise through interstate travel. He will be sentenced at his next court appearance. A judge could impose a fine as high as $250,000 and require up to five years behind bars.
The man originally transported cars for the ringleader, who eventually convinced him to transport marijuana to Oklahoma from the West Coast. A traffic stop near Omaha on July 30, 2018, resulted in his arrest after police reported finding 200 pounds of marijuana in his trailer. A U.S. attorney said that the suspect may get sentenced to federal prison for getting “caught up in the wrong game.”
As for the ringleader who masterminded the operation, he accepted responsibility for charges of money laundering, drug conspiracy and intent to sell at least 100 kilograms of marijuana. He managed the drug buys in other states and hired various parties to bring the drugs east for sale throughout the region.
Someone under investigation for drug crimes might want to reach out to a criminal defense attorney. Legal counsel could prepare a client to make a choice between a trial or plea bargain. An attorney might insist on the dismissal or reduction of charges that are not clearly indicated by valid evidence. Any signs that law enforcement agents violated the person’s Constitutional rights could empower an attorney during negotiations with a prosecutor.
