A former Texas law enforcement officer who over a dozen years hauled about $40 million in drug money meant for Mexico has been sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Robert "Bobby" Maldonado of Weslaco was sentenced Wednesday by a federal judge in McAllen.
The ex-Texas Department of Public Safety trooper and former Hidalgo County sheriff's deputy pleaded guilty in May to conspiracy to commit money laundering.
A 2012 traffic stop yielded more than $1 million in the trunk of his car. Maldonado was running for Hidalgo County constable at the time of his arrest in Victoria County.
Prosecutors say Maldonado from 2001 to late 2013 would fly to cities including Detroit, Chicago and Birmingham, Alabama, rent a car, pick up the money and drive to the South Texas border.
