Driver said he doesn’t know who put marijuana in trailer

Driver said he doesn’t know who put marijuana in trailer
By MARY FLOOD HOUSTON CHRONICLE

Jan. 27, 2010, 9:50PM

A man who said someone else must have put more than 2 tons of marijuana in his tractor trailer was found guilty of conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute by a Laredo jury Wednesday.

Roberto Huerta-Sanchez III, 34, of San Antonio, was found guilty in a two-day trial overseen by Houston-based United States District Judge Keith Ellison.

United States Attorney Tim Johnson issued a written statement saying Huerta-Sanchez now faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison with a $4 million fine.

Trial testimony showed that in April 2006, Huerta-Sanchez drove a tractor trailer to the border on Interstate 35 north of Laredo where agents discovered 4,290 pounds of marijuana in 480 bundles.

A representative from the Dallas company listed on the bill of lading testified that they weren’t expecting the cargo, the written statement said.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Border Patrol.

mary.flood@chron.com

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6839095.html