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Man sentenced to nearly 7 years in prison after pleading guilty to drug trafficking charge

Francisco Santana Herrera, 42, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

BEAUMONT, Texas — A man was sentenced to nearly 7 years in prison after pleading guilty to a drug trafficking charge on Thursday.

The man, who officials say is a Mexican national illegally living in the United States, was sentenced to 6 years and 8 months for the drug trafficking violations, according to U.S. Attorney Damien Diggs.

Francisco Santana Herrera, 42, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and was sentenced to 80 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone on Nov. 21.

According to information presented in court, on April 10, 2024, Herrera was stopped for speeding in a construction zone on Interstate 10 in Beaumont.

During a search of the vehicle, officers discovered approximately 16 kilos of cocaine.

This case was investigated by the Beaumont Police Department, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and Homeland Security Investigations and Customs Enforcement.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Grove.

This is a developing story. We will update with more if or when we receive more confirmed information.

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