Tifton woman enters guilty plea on drug charge in federal court
Anna Maria Lopez-Vazquez entered guilty plea to one count of possession with intent to distribute meth
File Photo
From Staff Reports
TIFTON — A Tifton woman pleaded guilty on Wednesday to a drug charge after she was arrested carrying four kilos of methamphetamine and cocaine in her car with the intent to distribute the illegal drugs, officials from the U.S. Middle District of Georgia federal court said Friday.
Anna Maria Lopez-Vazquez, 32, of Tifton, entered a guilty plea to one count of possession with intent to distribute meth before U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell in Macon federal court on Wednesday. Officials said the charge carries a penalty of 10 years up to life in prison, a $10 million fine and five years supervised release.
A sentencing date for Lopez-Vasquez has not been scheduled.
Officials said her signed plea agreement stated that on May 18, 2017, Lopez-Vasquez was driving a Yukon SUV southbound on I-75 in Peach County. She was accompanied by a passenger, who was not charged in the crime.
A Peach County deputy on patrol in the area spotted the SUV with an obscured license failing to maintain its lane of traffic, both traffic infractions in Georgia. During the traffic stop, the deputy smelled an odor of marijuana. Following a legal search of the vehicle, 2,942 grams of meth and 999 grams of cocaine were found in three containers, sealed with plastic wrap, hidden inside a sports bag, officials said.
Lopez-Vasquez and the passenger were arrested. In a post-arrest interview, she admitted that the drugs belonged to her. She denied any involvement by the passenger.
“Methamphetamine is one of the most addictive, destructive drugs of our day, and people who profit from its sale will be caught and held accountable in the Middle District of Georgia,” Charles Peeler, the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, said. “Getting this volume of illegal drugs off the streets saved countless lives.
“I am grateful for the good work of our local law enforcement teams who continue to do everything in their power to stop the distribution of meth into our communities.”
The case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Peach County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Calhoun is prosecuting the case for the federal government.
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