Carthon Lee Merrick, 34, made 388 free trips on Southwest between the two cities, but authorities only began their investigation last year, when he made 100 trips.
In January, authorities caught him with nearly $80,000 in cash as he stepped off a plane at Hobby Airport in Houston. He was indicted on one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance on Sept. 25. Also charged are his alleged cocaine suppliers: Emilio Flores, 33, of Deer Park, and Jaime Garza, 32, a Mexican national illegally in the U.S.According to authorites in Houston, a bench warrant has been issued for the arrest of Flores, who is expected to surrender to federal authorities. Garza is currently in state custody awaiting trial on state drug charges, they say.All three are expected to be arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Calvin Botley on Friday, Oct. 3.If convicted, each defendant faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum of life imprisonment, without parole, and a maximum fine of $4 million.
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