Arizona man sentenced 25 years on marijuana trafficking, murder charges
Jun 7, 2019, 4:28 AM
(AP Photo/Marina Riker, File)
(AP Photo/Marina Riker, File)
PHOENIX — An Arizona man sentenced for charges relating to marijuana trafficking smuggling was sentenced to 25 years in prison on Monday to run concurrent with a murder charge.
Carlos Correa, 29, had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice.
He also received 16 years for a second-degree murder charge.
Correa is the last of eight federal defendants to be sentenced in the investigation of a large marijuana smuggling enterprise.
The investigation began in June 2015 when Correa was stopped trying to get around the Willcox Border Patrol checkpoint. His car was “loaded with marijuana” and “large sums” of money and Correa’s cell phone had pictures and texts with illegal narcotics packaged for distribution and guns, according to the press release.
On Feb. 26, 2016, Correa allegedly murdered a co-conspirator over “a dispute involving marijuana load payments,” according to the press release. He pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.
An eight-month investigation led to the arrest of more than 20 co-conspirators. Over 4,000 pounds of marijuana and several firearms were found, according to the press release.
