CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A California man will spend over seven years in prison for attempting to smuggle 20 pounds of cocaine through Charlotte Douglas International Airport in 2021, prosecutors announced Tuesday.
Carlos Fernandez, 33, was sentenced to 87 months in prison followed by three years of probation for the crime. He was arrested at Charlotte's airport on July 27, 2021, when a drug dog alerted the presence of narcotics in his suitcase. According to court records, Fernandez had just arrived in Charlotte from California when he was stopped by authorities. A search of his luggage found a smaller suitcase inside his suitcase, containing three vacuum-sealed "bricks" of cocaine.
Lab analysis confirmed Fernandez had approximately 9 kilograms, or 20 pounds, of cocaine. He pleaded guilty in November 2023 to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and aiding and abetting.
Investigators determined that Fernandez frequently traveled between California and Charlotte as a drug courier. Seized cellphones revealed messages to and from Fernandez about drug trafficking. Fernandez is in federal custody.
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