Federal Jury convicts Eli Torres and Alfredo Tapia III on two counts each
By: Jose G. Landa
An Exclusive Eagle Pass Business Journal News Story/Copyright 2013
A federal jury comprised of eight women and four men from the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas, Del Rio Division, found Eli Torres of Uvalde, Texas and Alfredo Tapia III of Bandera, Texas guilty of one count for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and a second count for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana on Thursday, June 20, 2013, after a three day jury trial before United States District Judge Alia Moses for the Western District of Texas, Del Rio Division, in Del Rio, Texas.
According to the criminal indictment, Count One charged Torres and Tapia of knowingly, intentionally and unlawfully combined, conspired, confederated and agreed together and with others known and unknown to possess with the intent to distribute a controlled substance, which offense involved 500 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of Cocaine from on or about August 1, 2009 and continuing to September 28, 2011.
Count Two of the indictment charges Torres and Tapia with knowingly, intentionally and unlawfully combined, conspired, confederated and agreed together and with others known and unknown to possess with the intent to distribute a controlled substance, which offense involved a quantity of 100 kilograms or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of Marijuana from on or about August 1, 2009 and continuing to September 28, 2011.
Both Torres and Tapia face up to 40 years imprisonment on each count, up to a $5 million dollar fine on each count, at least four years of supervised release on each count, and a $100 special assessment for each count of conviction.
Eli Torres was represented by criminal defense attorney Jack Stern of Del Rio. Alfredo Tapia III was represented by criminal defense attorney Alan Brown of San Antonio, Texas.
The United States of America was represented by Assistant United States Attorneys Patrick Paul Burke and Ralph Anthony Paradiso of the Del Rio office and Erica Benites Geise of the San Antonio office.
