A Texas man's guilty plea to drug distribution charges could land him behind bars for up to 40 years. Julio Deleon, 38, from Brownsville, entered his plea in a federal case involving conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Deleon's sentencing is slated for January 9, and he confronts a minimum mandatory sentence of five years and a maximum of 40 years in federal prison.
The charges stem from a January 25, incident where Bradenton Police officers attempted to pull over a vehicle Deleon was riding in. As reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office, when the car came to a stop, Deleon bolted but was quickly nabbed by law enforcement. The police then discovered a backpack holding just shy of five kilograms of cocaine, located on the floor by the front passenger seat, where Deleon had been seated.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Bradenton Police Department conducted the joint investigation that led to Deleon's arrest and subsequent plea. Assistant United States Attorney Michael R. Kenneth is handling the prosecution.
