Atlanta truck driver pleads guilty in a south Texas courtroom to cocaine conspiracy

BROWNSVILLE, Texas — An Atlanta man pleaded guilty Tuesday to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute 53 kilograms (117 pounds) of cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson, Southern District of Texas. The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with the assistance from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).

Bobby J. McCarty Jr. pleaded guilty on Jan. 10 before U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen to one count of a superseding criminal indictment for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute 53 kilograms of cocaine.

According to court documents, McCarty was stopped for speeding on June 24, 2011, by a Texas DPS trooper. A search of his truck and trailer revealed 44 bundles in a compartment within the gas tank which were later determined to contain 53 kilograms (117 pounds) of cocaine. McCarty conspired with others to transport cocaine from Brownsville to Gary, Ind. McCarty used two of his own tractor-trailers to move the narcotics. He further admitted being paid to move cocaine loads on three occasions. But travel records demonstrated McCarty traveled from Atlanta to Brownsville on more than 20 occasions between December 2009 and June 2011 when he was arrested.

McCarty faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison. He also faces a possible $10 million fine, and up to five years of supervised release. McCarty remains on bond pending his sentencing hearing scheduled for April 16. As part of his plea agreement, he has also agreed to the forfeiture of his home.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys V. LaTawn Warsaw and Karen Betancourt, Southern District of Texas, are prosecuting this case.