Ten individuals, including an Alabama Law Enforcement Agency State Trooper, have pleaded guilty or been found guilty in a federal cocaine smuggling and distribution operation spanning multiple states.
Among those convicted are Jim Carter Jr., 58, of Montgomery, Alabama; Francisco Lopez, 39, of Texas; Michael Evans, 53, a former State Trooper; and Bryce Johnson, 38, of Union Springs, Alabama. On May 19, 2025, a federal jury found Carter, Lopez, Evans, and Johnson guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. Carter and Lopez were also convicted of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
The investigation, initiated by the Drug Enforcement Administration in 2023, revealed Carter’s involvement in traveling to Texas and crossing into Mexico to facilitate the drug conspiracy. Couriers regularly transported cocaine from Texas to Alabama, delivering it directly to Carter. On June 10, 2024, agents seized six kilograms of cocaine during a delivery involving Lopez.
Evidence also showed Michael Evans offered to use his official patrol uniform and vehicle to aid drug transportation, attempting to avoid law enforcement detection.
Several other defendants pleaded guilty prior to trial, including Saundra Curry of Deatsville, Othello Howard and Jimario Thompson of Montgomery, and Mexican nationals Raul Ramos Deleon and Maria Beatriz Palomo-De Lopez, the latter two for illegal reentry after deportation.
Sentencing hearings are forthcoming. Carter and Lopez face mandatory sentences ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment, while Evans, Johnson, and others face up to 20 years. Federal sentences do not allow for parole.
Acting U.S. Attorney Kevin Davidson emphasized the threat drug trafficking poses to communities, while DEA Special Agent in Charge Steven Hofer highlighted the importance of accountability—even for those sworn to uphold the law.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark E. Andreu and Michelle R. Turner and involved collaboration among the DEA, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, and several local police departments. It was conducted under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) program, targeting high-level criminal organizations through a multi-agency approach.
