An Arizona man’s attempts to reconnect with his former girlfriend turned into a federal conviction in Kansas after he unknowingly texted with a Wichita police officer.
Mark McFarland, 31, of Phoenix, Ariz., pleaded guilty to one count of interstate transportation in furtherance of drug trafficking on Monday, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said in a statement.
According to court records, McFarland believed the texts he received while planning to travel with drugs to Kansas were coming from his former girlfriend. However, the girlfriend had been arrested in another case and her cell phone had been seized by a Wichita police officer.
Two days after the girlfriend was arrested, McFarland sent a text to the girlfriend’s number saying, ‘Hi.’ The officer texted back: ‘Hi.’ What followed was a series of texts in which they arranged for McFarland to drive to Wichita to visit the girlfriend and to deliver five pounds of methamphetamine.
McFarland was arrested when he arrived in Wichita with the drugs.
Sentencing is set for July 7. McFarland faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.
Grissom commended the Wichita Police Department and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Treaster for their work on the case.
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Key Facts
- State: Kansas
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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