River Region Times

MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA – United States Attorney Jonathan S. Ross announced today that a federal grand jury in Montgomery, Alabama indicted six individuals for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine.

According to the indictment, 57-year-old Jim Carter, Jr., from Montgomery, Alabama; 38-year-old Francisco Lopez, from Texas; 40-year-old Maria Beatriz Palomo-De Lopez, a Mexican national; 63-year-old Saundra S. Curry, from Deatsville, Alabama; 37-year-old Bryce Johnson, from Union Springs, Alabama; and 52-year-old Michael Anthony Evans, an Alabama State Trooper from Montgomery, Alabama, are charged with conspiring to distribute cocaine. The conspiracy began at an unknown date and continued through at least June 10, 2024. The indictment further alleges that Jim Carter, Jr., and Francisco Lopez are each responsible for at least five kilograms of cocaine involved in the conspiracy.

In addition, the indictment charges Jim Carter, Jr., Francisco Lopez, and Maria Beatriz Palomo-De Lopez with possessing cocaine with intent to distribute. Lastly, the indictment alleges that Maria Beatriz Palomo-De Lopez illegally re-entered the United States after being deported in 2013.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Due to the amount of cocaine alleged against Jim Carter Jr. and Francisco Lopez in the indictment, they each face a sentence of ten years to life in prison. The other defendants are facing a sentence of up to 20 years. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case with cooperation from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Assistant United States Attorney Mark E. Andreu is prosecuting this case.