FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                          CONTACT:  DAVILYN WALSTON
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2008                PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER
WWW.USDOJ.GOV/USAO/txe                                        PHONE: (409) 839-2538
                                                                                                 CELL: (409) 553-9881
                                                                                                    

RICHMOND MAN SENTENCED FOR FEDERAL DRUG CRIMES

            TYLER TX – United States Attorney John L. Ratcliffe announced today that a 48-year-old Richmond, Texas man has been sentenced to 87 months in federal prison for drug violations in the Eastern District of Texas.

MICHAEL LLOYD FRANCIS was sentenced today by United States District Judge Leonard E. Davis. 

According to information presented in court, Rusk County Deputy Sheriff Kenneth Biggs stopped Francis on Highway 59 in Rusk County on March 12, 2007, for a traffic violation and subsequently located approximately 50 kilograms of cocaine powder concealed within the truck Francis was driving.  A one-count federal indictment was returned by the Grand Jury in Tyler on April 3, 2007 charging Francis with possession with intent to distribute cocaine.  Francis pleaded guilty to the charges on September 11, 2007. 

            This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Rusk County Sheriff's Office.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard L. Moore.

           
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