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Press Release

Jasper County Traffic Stop Puts NC Man In Federal Prison

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Texas

Department of Justice
Office of Public Affairs

BEAUMONT, Texas – A 46-year-old Clinton, NC man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.

Enar David Zuniga pleaded guilty on Aug. 29, 2012, to possession with intent to distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana and was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Ron Clark.

            According to information presented in court, on June 18, 2012, Zuniga was stopped by a Texas Highway Patrol trooper in Jasper County, Texas for a seatbelt violation.  During the stop, Zuniga appeared nervous and his answers to the trooper’s questions were suspicious.  Zuniga opened the back of the Isuzu truck and gave the trooper permission to search the vehicle’s contents.  The trooper inspected the front of the truck and suspected a hidden compartment.  A K-9 unit arrived and alerted to the back of the truck where 1,064 pounds of marijuana was discovered.  Zuniga was indicted on June 21, 2012 and charged with federal drug trafficking crimes.

            This case was investigated by Texas Department of Public Safety and the Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Baylor Wortham.

Updated March 12, 2015