Commerce man to be tried in Texas for drug trafficking

James Pittman was arrested July 23, along with another man after Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) officials found some 91 packages of cocaine in the sleeper compartment of the Volvo tractor Pittman was driving at the Sarita, Texas, Border Patrol checkpoint, according to Nancy Herrera, executive assistant U.S. Attorney in Houston. Sarita is located off U.S. 77 between Brownsville and Corpus Christi.

The other suspect was listed as Major White III. Ages and addresses of the two were not available.
If convicted, the two could face from 10 years to life in prison, Herrera said.

Pittman, who is being held without bond, was indicted Aug. 20 on charges of conspiracy to distribute narcotics and selling, distributing or dispensing narcotics. Jury selection in his trial is scheduled for Sept. 22.

According to an affidavit filed with the United States Magistrate Judge, a U.S. Border Patrol narcotics dog alerted on the vehicle at the Sarita checkpoint, leading to a search. The 91 bundles of cocaine weighing approximately 100.15 kilograms were concealed behind the top bunk in the sleeper, the report said. That’s more than 220 pounds. A Glock .22 pistol with 14 hollow-point rounds in the magazine and one in the chamber was also recovered, along with two bundles of U.S. currency totaling $4,343, the affidavit said.

According to the document, Pittman told investigators that while he was at a gas station in Kingsville, Texas, a Hispanic male approached and asked if he wanted to make some extra money. Pittman said he would. Before they reached Brownsville, Pittman received a call to confirm the arrangement, and the following day, Pittman and the two drove to an unidentified garage “while two unidentified Hispanic males were waiting to load the vehicle with the bundles of cocaine,” the report said.

Pittman told officials he was supposed to transport the drugs to Houston.