Six charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine, including an Alabama state trooper

Six people, including a police officer, have been charged in federal court in Montgomery with conspiracy to distribute cocaine, a prosecutor said.

According to US Attorney Jonathan Ross, the following people have been charged:

• Jim Carter, Jr., 57, of Montgomery
• 38-year-old Francisco Lopez from Texas
• 40-year-old Maria Beatriz Palomo-De Lopez, Mexican citizen
• 63-year-old Saundra S. Curry, of Deatsville
• Bryce Johnson, 37, of Union Springs
• 52-year-old Michael Anthony Evans, an Alabama State Trooper from Montgomery

Ross says they are charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine. He says the conspiracy began on an unknown date and lasted until 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.

Additionally, the indictment charges Jim Carter, Jr., Francisco Lopez, and Maria Beatriz Palomo-De Lopez with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. Finally, the indictment alleges that Maria Beatriz Palomo-De Lopez illegally entered the United States after being deported in 2013.

If convicted, Jim Carter, Jr. and Francisco Lopez face between 10 years and life in prison for the amount of cocaine they are charged with. The other defendants face up to 20 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

— Information from the Office of U.S. Attorney Jonathan Ross, Middle District of Alabama