United States Attorney James T. Jacks
Northern District of Texas

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2010
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txn/

FEDERAL JURY CONVICTS COUPLE ON FELONY DRUG CHARGES

AMARILLO, Texas — Following a one-day trial yesterday before U.S. District Judge Mary Lou Robinson, a federal jury in Amarillo deliberated just a short time before convicting Cynthia Lynn Ortega, 43, and Daniel Alan Wasyl, 46, both of Phoenix, on felony drug charges, announced U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks, of the Northern District of Texas. Specifically, the jury convicted each defendant on one count of conspiracy to distribute a drug and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. They each face a maximum statutory sentence of life in prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

The government presented evidence at trial that on May 23, 2010, a Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper stopped the defendants on Interstate 40, near Panhandle, Texas, for a traffic violation. The Trooper became suspicious and asked to search their truck. He found a compartment mounted under the back seat of their pickup that contained cocaine and cocaine base (crack cocaine). The defendants were transporting the drugs from Phoenix to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

The case was investigated by the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Vicki Lamberson prosecuted.

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