Sam Hurd, formerly a wide receiver for the Chicago Bears, faces four additional federal drug charges after he recently failed to complete a plea bargain negotiation based on the original charges. The original charges included drug conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute. The plea bargain would have had Hurd entering a guilty plea to a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute charge, which could have seen him serving 10 years in prison.
The new charges against Hurd stem from a June 6 incident in which he allegedly attempted to obtain between 50 and 100 kilograms of marijuana, and more than 5 kilograms of cocaine. On the same day, his cousin was arrested for an alleged attempt to purchase drugs. According to Hurd’s cousin, the drug purchase was for Hurd, an accusation that was allegedly corroborated in three telephone conversations between the cousin and Hurd’s sister.
Hurd’s legal issues began with his arrest in December after an alleged attempt to arrange for the purchase of drugs from an undercover police officer and an informant at a Chicago restaurant. During the incident, Hurd was provided with 1 kilogram of cocaine. Once he reached his car with the drugs, he was arrested. After his indictment on the charges related to the incident, he was released, and he moved in with his sister in a southern state. The second offense in June led to another arrest, during which he allegedly failed a drug test for marijuana. His probation was subsequently revoked, and the prosecutors for the case are attempting to forfeit the $100,000 bond Hurd placed for his initial release. Hurd’s trial is set to begin on Oct. 9.
Sentences for drug charges can be extremely long, with first-time offenders often serving years in state or federal prisons. Those charged with drug offenses should be aware of the serious nature of any drug charge, whether they face a simple misdemeanor possession of marijuana charge or a felony charge of intent to distribute. It’s important to figure out if Hurd’s relatives are testifying against him to throw him under the bus.
Source: Chicago Tribune, “Ex-Bears WR Hurd faces four more drug charges,” Ana Veciana-Suarez, Sept. 19, 2012
