Grand jury indicts man for possessing kilos of cocaine

TEXARKANA, Texas —A man who allegedly possessed 14 kilograms of cocaine while traveling through Titus County, Texas, last month appeared Friday before a federal judge in Texarkana.

Cedric Ellis was arrested during a traffic stop Feb. 21 by a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper, according to a press statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Texas. The trooper became suspicious after speaking to Ellis and his passengers, another adult and a child.

Fourteen kilo-sized bundles of cocaine were discovered after the trooper’s canine alerted to the presence of drugs. Ellis allegedly took ownership of the drugs and has been held in the Titus County jail ever since.

An indictment unsealed Friday in Texarkana, Texas, federal court charges Ellis with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. Ellis appeared with Texarkana lawyer Jeff Harrelson for arraignment on the charge before U.S. Magistrate Judge Caroline Craven in Texarkana’s downtown federal building.

Harrelson waived the issue of detention on his client’s behalf and Ellis remains in federal custody. Jury selection in the case is scheduled for May 26 before U.S. District Judge Robert Schroeder III. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Hornok is representing the government.

According to the indictment, the government is seeking a money judgment of $420,000 against Ellis. If convicted, Ellis faces 10 years to life in prison and a fine up to $10 million.