Can you explain more about what happened? I believe you but "charged with exactly the same thing" is throwing me off.
Also, conspiracy to distribute sounds like a trumped up charge. "You discussed distributing drugs with other people but never actually distributed drugs."
Basically they were able to prove he was moving drugs without him being caught with any. Between the girls testimony, his movements and communications it was obvious what was going on.
The girl was someone the higher ups had him ride along with. She got caught in Louisiana iirc with like 50lbs of pot he wasn't on that trip. They were trafficking so the state let the feds charge her, so could get more people potentially. She sold my friend out to get her federal charges dropped. After her testimony she was released from federal custody and charged with possession and intent to distribute on the state level.
He did ended up doing 3 years.
Absolutely wild that she gets caught with actual drugs and doesn't serve time but he does even though they never caught him with anything.
She did end up doing about the same amount of time as him in state prison. The cops knew they were mules for a lot bigger people, they would just pick up a car in Texas and drive it to florida. The police were looking to get higher up people. The girl gave them my friend and my friend ended up not giving up anyone and got the maximum sentence for conspiracy Because he didn't give anyone up. I'm assuming the feds fucked over the girl because they didn't get anyone important from her, basically just another driver.
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