Nixon's Trammell sentenced to 18 months in federal prison

After having his sentencing hearing rescheduled four times, former Nixon Councilman Auvye Trammel learned his fate in a San Antonio courtroom Friday morning. Trammell was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for his connection with a group of men caught trafficking marijuana into Texas from Mexico.

The conviction stemmed from drug trafficking charges against Jesse Maldonado, Jr., also of Nixon. Maldonado was arrested on January 10, 2010 in Laredo where authorities said he was caught driving a pickup from Mexico carrying 80 kilos of marijuana. He pleaded guilty on April 14 to a trafficking charge.

Court records show that Trammell posted Maldonado’s bail and that Trammell himself had been charged in a San Antonio chase in connection with the drug load Maldonado was bringing back in January.

Trammell was arrested in San Antonio on June 3, 2010 as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents took him into custody.

Trammell pled guilty to a marijuana possession charge on Nov. 18, 2010.

Trammell’s third reset date was scheduled for April to a new date of June 3 before the fourth reschedule. Chief U.S. District Federal Judge Fred Biery presided over the hearing.

Judge Biery also ordered Trammell to pay four years of back income taxes.

Trammell’s 21 years of service to the Nixon community were commemorated with a proclamation from the city itself during a May 9 city council meeting. Trammell announced in June the he would not be running for re-election to the Nixon City Council, but he was not permanently retiring from the position.

The Inquirer will have more information on the sentencing as it becomes available.