[Sativa]

A former El Paso trucking manager convicted of transporting marijuana in his tractor-trailers was sentenced this week to life in prison by a North Carolina judge, said Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials.

Hector Ruben McGurk, 47, the former operator of Allied Van Lines in El Paso and a former resident of the West Side, will not be eligible for parole, officials said.

McGurk was arrested in August 2002 and convicted of conspiring with some of his employees to transport more than 100,000 pounds of marijuana from El Paso to the East Coast from January 1996 to August 2002. The drugs were often hidden behind furniture and other household items in the big rigs. He was also convicted of money laundering.

Roberto G. Medina, ICE special agent in charge in El Paso, called the life sentence a "wake-up call" for drug traffickers.

The case is one of the largest marijuana trafficking cases ever prosecuted in the Western District of North Carolina, officials said.

According to trial testimony, the investigation began in March 2001, when about 8,200 pounds of marijuana and $1.4 million in cash were seized from an Allied Van Lines truck in Woodleaf, N.C.

Witnesses, including McGurk, described McGurk's lavish life style, including expensive homes and cars. Witnesses also testified that McGurk discouraged witnesses from testifying against him by hiring lawyers for them and by conveying threats to the wife of one of the drivers.

Four of his employees were also arrested and convicted of drug charges, officials said.



News Hawk - User http://www.420magazine.com/
Source: El Paso Times
Author: Louie Gilot
Contact: lgilot@elpasotimes.com
Copyright: 2007 by the El Paso Times and MediaNews
Website: El Paso Times - Marijuana smuggler gets life in prison