Former NFL Player Sam Hurd Pleads Guilty To Role In Cocaine And Marijuana Distribution Conspiracy

DALLAS — Samuel George Hurd, III, 27, appeared in federal court this afternoon and pleaded guilty, before U.S. District Judge Jorge A. Solis, to a superseding indictment charging conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, announced U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas. There was no plea agreement between Hurd and the government; Hurd’s trial was to have begun on Monday, April 15, 2013.

That superseding indictment, which was returned by a federal grand jury on March 19, 2013, alleged that from July 2011 to on or about June 6, 2012, Hurd conspired to possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and 100 kilograms or more of marijuana. The superseding indictment also includes a sentencing notice stating that on or about June 6, 2012, Hurd, while on pretrial release, attempted to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and at least 50 kilograms, but less than 100 kilograms, of marijuana.

Two co-defendants, Toby Lujan and Jesse Tyrone Chavful, have pleaded guilty to their roles in the drug conspiracy and are awaiting sentencing. Both are in federal custody.

Hurd, who has been in federal custody since late August 2012, faces a statutory penalty of not less than 10 years and up to life in federal prison and up to a $10 million fine. Sentencing is set for July 10, 2013.

The investigation was led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with assistance from the Denton Police Department. Deputy Criminal Chief Assistant U.S. Attorney Gary Tromblay and Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Kull and Errin Martin are prosecuting.