FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

MONDAY - October 6, 2008

DRUG TRAFFICKER PLEADS GUILTY TO POSSESSING WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE OVER 900 POUNDS OF MARIJUANA

RALEIGH - United States Attorney George E.B. Holding announced that in federal court here today FERNANDO MICHAEL NUNEZ, 25, of La Puente, California, pled guilty before United States District Judge James C. Dever, III, to possession with intent to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1), which carries a maximum penalty of up to 40 years imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release and a maximum fine or up to $2,000,000.

On September 4, 2008, a Criminal Information was filed. On August 14, 2007, a Granville County Sheriff’s Deputy was on patrol on US Hwy 15 in Creedmoor, North Carolina, when he stopped a vehicle, that contained NUNEZ as a passenger, for speeding. The driver appeared very nervous which made the deputy suspicious. Consent to search the car was asked for and given. During the search, 9 cardboard boxes containing 901 pounds of marijuana were found. The driver then admitted to traveling to Laredo, Texas to pick-up the marijuana for another individual. Morgan was to be paid $15,000 to pick-up and deliver the marijuana to a residence in Oxford, North Carolina.

United States Attorney George Holding commented, “As in many cases, it was the quick work of a local law enforcement officer which uncovered this crime. Had the deputy not been vigilant and well-trained, this crime might have gone undetected. We commend the deputy for this vigilance.”

Rodney G. Benson, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division said of the guilty plea, “Marijuana is a dangerous drug that poses a clear and present danger to the community. Because of the collective efforts of our local, state and federal law enforcement counterparts, this defendant was brought justice.”

Sentencing is set for January 26, 2009.

Investigation of the case was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Granville County Sheriff’s Office and the Creedmoor Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Ethan Ontjes served as prosecutor for the government.

News releases are available on the U. S. Attorney’s web page at www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce within 48 hours of release.