SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- A United States District Court judge sentenced 44-year-old Antonio Curiel to nine years in prison followed by four years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute over 500 grams of cocaine. 

Curiel, who is from San Ysedro, Calif., was stopped on I-90 around 8 a.m. on March 20, 2024. Authorities say he was transporting more than 18 kilograms of cocaine from California to the East Coast.

Authorities say Curiel admitted he was being paid for his transportation services, and this was not the first time making such a trip.

On the morning of the stop, a Laporte County Sheriff's Office Sergeant was on duty on I-90 in Laporte County when he observed an orange Hyundai Kona with a California license plate traveling east.

The sergeant reports seeing the vehicle doing 77 mph in a 70 mph zone and a stop was initiated at mile marker 56.

"The sergeant approached the vehicle and learned there were three people in the car," the report states.

"While the sergeant was investigating the speeding infraction and obtaining information about both Curiel and the vehicle, [an] LCSO Officer arrived and deployed his K9 partner around the orange Hyundai Kona."

Authorities say the K9 positively alerted to the odor of narcotics emitting from the vehicle.

"Following the positive K9 alert, the sergeant informed Curiel that he believed Curiel possessed illegal narcotics. Curiel confirmed he did and stated, 'many, too many,'" the report states. 

"After being advised of his Miranda Warnings, Curiel admitted to possessing 'more than 12' kilos."

During a search of the vehicle, officers found a duffel bag containing brick-shaped packages, a cardboard box containing brick-shaped packages, and a backpack containing one brick- shaped package.

"All of the recovered brick-shaped packages were consistent with packaging for narcotics, and all of the packages contained a white powder substance consistent with cocaine," the report states.

"The sergeant asked Curiel if the packages contained cocaine, and Curiel confirmed that they did. Curiel indicated that he was getting paid to deliver the cocaine to someone in the Boston area."

Authorities say the substance from the brick-shaped packages field tested positive for cocaine. The packages were later weighed, and they total 46.90 pounds (21.2 kilograms).