Florida Woman Guilty of Federal Drug Trafficking Violations

               BEAUMONT, Texas – A 35-year-old St. Petersburg, Florida woman has pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking crimes in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown today.

               Erica Ann Lang pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess methamphetamine today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith F. Giblin.  Ryan Andrew Davis, 35, of Clearwater, Florida pleaded guilty to the same charge on Jan. 16, 2020.              

               According to information presented in court, on Oct. 24, 2019, Davis and Lang were stopped for a traffic violation on Interstate Highway 10 East in Beaumont, Texas.  A certified narcotics detection dog alerted on the car and a search was performed revealing approximately one kilogram of methamphetamine hidden in the trunk of the vehicle.

               Under federal statutes, Davis and Lang each face at least 10 years and up to life in federal prison at sentencing.  The statutory sentence prescribed by Congress is provided here for information purposes, as the sentencing will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.  A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.

               This case was investigated by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John B. Ross.