17 sentenced in Texas drug ring, ties to North Carolina

AUSTIN, Texas — Prosecutors say 17 people have been sentenced for their convictions in a Central Texas cocaine and methamphetamine ring with ties to North Carolina.

A federal judge in Austin on Tuesday ordered sentences ranging from nearly 22 years in prison to probation or time served for the ring operating since 2016 in the Taylor area.

Records show 20 people were indicted in November 2017 and arrested the following month on trafficking-related conspiracy charges. They're from Laredo, Round Rock, Taylor, Pflugerville, Temple and Austin, plus Sanford, Broadway and Cameron, North Carolina.

Members of the ring, which also dealt in pharmaceutical narcotics, transported drugs from Laredo to Central Texas, then to North Carolina and other U.S. points.

Prosecutors say 20 people have been convicted, along with seizure of cash, drugs and guns.

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Associated Press