Victor Estrada, Cocaine Trafficking, Alabama 2019

Cocaine Trafficker Sentenced to 30 Years in Alabama

MOBILE, Ala. - A 48-year-old Texan has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for his involvement in a large-scale cocaine trafficking operation in Alabama.

Victor Estrada, of Laredo, Texas, was stopped by Saraland police on Interstate 65 in Mobile County in an investigation that netted 35 kilograms of cocaine. The drugs were found in a cardboard box behind the passenger seat in the cab of a bobtail tractor after a drug detection dog gave a positive indication for the odor of narcotics.

Estrada and his co-defendant, Linda Lancon, also of Laredo, were transporting the cocaine to the Atlanta, Georgia, area, according to court documents. The investigation revealed that the pair had made several prior trips to Atlanta with the same vehicle.

Estrada pleaded guilty to the charge of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine in March 2019.

United States District Court Judge Terry F. Moorer imposed a sentence of 30 years imprisonment, finding that Estrada was a career criminal with a high risk of recidivism. The judge also noted that Estrada's history of domestic violence established him as a threat to the community.

In addition to his prison term, Estrada was ordered to serve 5 years of supervised release, during which he will undergo drug abuse testing and treatment. No fine was imposed, but Estrada was ordered to pay $100 in special mandatory assessments.

The case was investigated by the Saraland Police Department and the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted in the United States Attorney's Office by Assistant United States Attorney Gloria Bedwell.

In a statement, United States Attorney Richard W. Moore said that Estrada's sentence sends a strong message that those involved in large-scale cocaine trafficking will be held accountable for their crimes.

Estrada's sentence is a significant blow to the trafficking organization and a testament to the hard work and dedication of the law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdal/pr/cocaine-trafficker-sentenced-30-years