Trucker gets 15 years for hauling ‘meth’
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A truck driver pleaded guilty to possession of more than 500 pounds of methamphetamine Monday and received a 15-year prison sentence, court officials in Livingston Parish reported.
“We believe it’s the largest methamphetamine possession case ever” in the United States, based on a U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency review of its database, prosecutor David Guidry said.
The drugs were mixed with cauliflower and broccoli, said Guidry, an assistant district attorney in the 21st Judicial District.
The investigation showed the 18-wheeler left McAllen, Texas, carrying vegetables, but apparently stopped somewhere outside of that town and added 505 pounds of methamphetamine to the load, Guidry said.
The truck was bound for South Carolina, he said.
Louisiana State Police reported stopping the truck on Interstate 12 in Livingston Parish as part of a safety inspection on Oct. 11, 2007.
The trooper reported noticing the seal on the back of the truck had been tampered with and searched the truck.
The trooper found bundles of methamphetamine among the vegetables, Guidry said, adding the bundles had been wrapped with duct tape and had transmission fluid poured on them to mask the odor of the drug.
Troopers booked Francisco Villa, 52, of Pharr, Texas, with possession of more than 400 grams of methamphetamine, the highest category in the state statute, Guidry said.
“He had a lot more than that,” Guidry added.
Villa was set to go on trial this week, but agreed to enter a guilty plea, according to the Livingston Parish Clerk of Court’s Office.
State District Judge Robert Morrison sentenced Villa to 15 years of hard labor in the state Department of Corrections with benefit for time served, said Ann Wimberly, criminal supervisor for the clerk of court.
“We believe it’s the largest methamphetamine possession case ever” in the United States, based on a U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency review of its database, prosecutor David Guidry said.
The drugs were mixed with cauliflower and broccoli, said Guidry, an assistant district attorney in the 21st Judicial District.
The investigation showed the 18-wheeler left McAllen, Texas, carrying vegetables, but apparently stopped somewhere outside of that town and added 505 pounds of methamphetamine to the load, Guidry said.
The truck was bound for South Carolina, he said.
Louisiana State Police reported stopping the truck on Interstate 12 in Livingston Parish as part of a safety inspection on Oct. 11, 2007.
The trooper reported noticing the seal on the back of the truck had been tampered with and searched the truck.
The trooper found bundles of methamphetamine among the vegetables, Guidry said, adding the bundles had been wrapped with duct tape and had transmission fluid poured on them to mask the odor of the drug.
Troopers booked Francisco Villa, 52, of Pharr, Texas, with possession of more than 400 grams of methamphetamine, the highest category in the state statute, Guidry said.
“He had a lot more than that,” Guidry added.
Villa was set to go on trial this week, but agreed to enter a guilty plea, according to the Livingston Parish Clerk of Court’s Office.
State District Judge Robert Morrison sentenced Villa to 15 years of hard labor in the state Department of Corrections with benefit for time served, said Ann Wimberly, criminal supervisor for the clerk of court.
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