Toribio Torres, Jr. The Willacy County and District Attorney’s Office announced today that Toribio Torres, Jr., 35, of Mission, TX, was found guilty by a Willacy County jury comprised of 7 women and 5 men. The defendant was sentenced to 14 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for possession of marihuana. On December 21, 2009, a Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper conducted a traffic stop on a Ford Explorer for a traffic violation. A search of the motor vehicle revealed 33 pounds of marihuana wrapped in gray duck tape located in the spare tire and rear side panels. The punishment range was enhanced, because the defendant has a prior prison sentence, to confinement of 2 to 20 years and an optional fine not to exceed $10,000.

The District Attorney’s Office will aggressively prosecute crimes involving drug trafficking and would like to thank the Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division, Trooper Omar Garza, and Forensic Scientist Vanessa Kooiman for their participation on this case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Carlos Masso and Border Prosecutor David Coronado.