BALTIMORE - On May 12, 2014, U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Sergio Nunez, age 41, of Madera, California, to five years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
The sentence was announced by Assistant Special Agent in Charge Gary Tuggle of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office; United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; and Howard County Police Chief William McMahon.
“This is drug interdiction at its best. Mr. Nunez was caught bringing into Maryland a significant amount of cocaine. The quick and effective cooperation between our domestic offices along with our state and local law enforcement partners put an end to Mr. Nunez’s courier business," stated Gary Tuggle, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Baltimore District Office."
According to Nunez’s plea agreement, on May 22, 2013, Howard County Police stopped the vehicle Nunez was driving for speeding. Nunez provided his California driver’s license, but was not able to provide registration or proof of rental for the vehicle. A K-9 officer arrived shortly after and the dog alerted for the presence of drugs in the vehicle. A subsequent search of the vehicle recovered two duffel bags, each containing a large number of dark cellophane wrapped bricks. DEA agents secured the bags, which were determined to contain approximately 50 kilograms of cocaine with a street wholesale value of $1.5 million. Nunez admitted that he knew the bags contained cocaine and that he was to be compensated for transporting the drugs.
