On Wednesday January 28, an Albuquerque woman made a costly mistake when she dialed a number on her phone and tried to sell the person who answered heroin and cocaine, according to a recent news article at the NY Daily News. 30-year-old Renea Lucero thought she was dialing one of her buyers, but instead she mistakenly dialed the cell phone number of a detective with the Albuquerque Police Department.
Lucero was not aware she was talking to someone with law enforcement when she asked if he wanted to buy any narcotics. The detective didn’t give himself away; instead, he agreed to meet Lucero and called for backup to help with an undercover sting so that police could nab Lucero.
The officers involved in the sting wore civilian clothes to the meeting, where the suspect allegedly pulled a baggie from her bra; it contained heroin, according to the report. She then handed the baggie to Luciano Navarro, her driver, who weighed out the drug and sold it to the officer for $30.
Officers then arrested Lucero, Navarro, and another woman who was in the back seat of their car. Lucero had the officer’s cell phone number stored in her phone because of a prior criminal case, but was trying to call her boyfriend’s friend when she mistakenly dialed the detective’s number.
Lucero was arrested and charged with drug trafficking.
In the state of Michigan, anyone who is found to possess an illegal narcotic drug or who is caught selling an illegal substance such as heroin or cocaine could potentially be charged with drug trafficking. The penalties for a conviction for selling drugs in the state include fines of up to $25,000 along with prison time of up to 20 years. This applies to the possession/selling of less than 50 grams of heroin. Amounts in excess of 50 grams bring increasingly harsh punishment, including up to life in prison for amounts greater than 1 kg.
If you have been arrested or are under investigation for drug trafficking, it is imperative you work with a skilled and dedicated Michigan drug crime attorney. Not only is your freedom in jeopardy, your very future is at risk. Contact an experienced defense lawyer who will review your case and work with you to determine the most effective legal option for securing the outcome you desire.