Alabama state trooper among 6 indicted on cocaine charges; 6 kilos found stashed in truck batteries

An Alabama State Trooper is among six people indicted in a drug distribution conspiracy.

Middle District of Alabama U.S. Attorney Jonathan Ross announced the indictments Monday.

Those indicted are: 57-year-old Jim Carter, Jr., of Montgomery; 38-year-old Francisco Lopez, of Texas; 40-year-old Maria Beatriz Palomo-De Lopez, a Mexican national; 63-year-old Saundra S. Curry, of Deatsville; 37-year-old Bryce Johnson, of Union Springs and 52-year-old Michael Anthony Evans, an Alabama State Trooper from Montgomery.

They are charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine.

Investigators on June 10 conducted surveillance at a home on Edgar D. Nixon in Avenue.

Shortly before noon, according to the federal complaint, federal agents saw a gray Dodge Ram truck with Texas license plates arrive at the location.

A short time later, Carter’s Toyota Rav 4 also arrived at the location.

Maria Lopez and Francisco Lopez got out of the Dodge Ram, as did two children ages 14 and 4.

Curry and Carter got out of the Rav 4.

At 12:02 p.m., DEA agents carried out a search warrant at the home. As they approached, charging documents state, they saw Carter and Francisco Lopez trying to remove a battery from the bed of the Ram.

Agents secured everyone present.

During the search, agents found two batteries in the bed of the Dodge Ram. Inside of each battery was about 3 kilograms of cocaine, for a total of 6 kilos.

About 155.8 gross grams of crack cocaine was found inside the home.

The Lopezes told DEA agents they came to Montgomery looking for a house to rent.

“While searching the Ram truck, there was only one small suitcase for four people, which is indicative of a short trip,” the agent wrote.

Additionally, documents state the Ram had been in Houston on June 8, which the agent said is a known “source city” where the drugs come into the U.S.

Multiple times, the agent said, a Hispanic male used a public bus line from Houston to Montgomery and was picked up by Carter and taken to the home on Edgar D. Nixon. The man would then return to Houston the same night or the following night on a public bus.

Maria Lopez is also charged with illegally re-entering the U.S. after being deported in 2013.

Federal documents do not state the alleged role of Evans, who is a senior state trooper, in the conspiracy.

ALEA officials said Monday Evans was placed on mandatory leave Thursday, immediately following his arrest.

If convicted, Carter and Francisco Lopez face a sentence range of 10 years to life in prison.

The potential punishment for the other four defendants is up to 20 years in prison.

The DEA investigated the case, with cooperation from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark E. Andreu is prosecuting.