FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                          CONTACT:  DAVILYN WALSTON
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2007                  PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER
WWW.USDOJ.GOV/USAO/txe                                        PHONE: (409) 839-2538
                                                                                                 CELL: (409) 553-9881

PALESTINE MAN GUILTY OF FEDERAL GUN AND DRUG CRIMES

TYLER, TX – United States Attorney John L. Ratcliffe announced today that a 32-year-old Palestine, Texas man has pleaded guilty to drug and gun crimes in the Eastern District of Texas.

RAYMOND TORRES, JR., pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamines and carrying a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime today before United States Magistrate Judge John Love.
           
According to information presented in court, Torres was arrested following a December 30, 2006 traffic stop in Van Zandt County.  Torres was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 10, 2007.  He has also agreed to the forfeiture of two firearms.

Torres faces up to 40 years in federal prison for the drug charge and an additional 5 year consecutive sentence for the firearms charge.  A sentencing date has not been set.

            This case is being investigated by the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Palestine Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mary Ann Cozby.

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