DOTHAN, Ala. – An Alabama man and three others from Texas have been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking in the southeastern part of the state.
Muta Bolden, 36, of Dothan, was sentenced Tuesday to more than 10 years for his role in the crimes, according to Middle District of Alabama Acting U.S. Attorney Sandra J. Stewart. Bolden was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release after he completes his prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Bolden’s three co-defendants were previously sentenced for their roles in the crime. They include:
• Alberto Diaz, 44, from Rio Grande, Texas, sentenced to 130 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release
• Jesus Pina, Jr., 40, from San Juan, Texas, sentenced to 108 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release
• Kenneth Nicholas De La Cerda, 27, from Rio Grande, Texas, sentenced to 60 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
An Alabama man and three Texas men were sentenced to federal prison after 25 kilos of cocaine were delivered to Dothan in Houston County in 2019. (Dothan Police)
The investigation began in February 2019 when the DEA and Dothan police received information that a shipment of cocaine was being brought into Houston County. Working on that tip, authorities set up surveillance and watched as Bolden met up with Diaz and De La Cerda in Ashford.
Following that conversation, they all left separately. Diaz and De La Cerda eventually traveled to the Flying J Truck Stop in Dothan where they led an 18-wheeler being driven by Pina to another location.
Bolden later joined Diaz and De La Cerda at the truck, and roughly 25 kilos of cocaine were taken from the back of the trailer Pina was hauling. A short time later, authorities took all four suspects into custody.
Authorities at the time said the drugs had an estimated street value of more than $800,000.
Each of the four were sentenced after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Federal guidelines called for significant sentences for Diaz, Pina, and Bolden due to their extensive criminal histories and the quantity of illegal drugs that were attributed to each of them.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon Bates and Joshua Wendell prosecuted the cases, which were investigate by the DEA and Dothan police.
