A Rio Grande City man, identified as 41-year-old Jeremiah Hawthorne, will serve a 60-month sentence in federal prison following his conviction of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, according to a recent announcement by U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani. The official press release states Hawthorne had entered a guilty plea on May 5, 2021, which led to Chief U.S. District Judge Randy Crane issuing the prison term and an additional four years of supervised release afterward.
Details shared by the prosecution revealed that on Sept. 9, 2020, Hawthorne was observed near the Rio Grande River, a known hotspot for drug trafficking. After returning from the river, his GMC Yukon, appearing heavy as if loaded with a substantial weight, was approached by law enforcement for a traffic stop, rolling over in an attempt to evade to reverse in uneven terrain. Hawthorne, captured after resisting arrest, was found with 214 kilograms of marijuana in the overturned vehicle, which were to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility yet to be determined for transfer pending Hawthorne's custody.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and Border Patrol led the joint investigation that brought the case to a close, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Phelps overseeing the prosecution. Hawthorne's attempt to transport over $370,000 worth of marijuana came to an abrupt end due to the coordinated efforts of these agencies to thwart the illegal drug trade that continually threatens community safety.
Hawthorne, who will remain in custody awaiting his prison assignment, faced the legal repercussions of an extensive investigation into his activities spanning several months. The law-enforcement agencies involved, steadfast in their efforts, successfully nabed him, even though Hawthorne had physically resisted capture before he was finally apprehended. The gravity of his crime is reflected in the significant amount of drugs confiscated and his subsequent five-year sentence.
