Former DPS trooper sentenced to federal prison

A former state trooper has been sentenced to 87 months in federal prison on a drug possession charge following his guilty plea earlier this year.

Jesus Rafael Larrazolo, 35, of Brownsville, appeared this morning before U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen who handed the sentence.

Before being sentenced, Larrazolo apologized for his actions saying "I used bad judgment and made a mistake."

Larrazolo, pleaded guilty to a one count federal indictment charging him with possession with intent to distribute  26 kilograms or 57 pounds of cocaine on Jan 15, according to court documents. The cocaine has an estimated street value of $1.64 million.

While employed as a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper, Larrazolo was arrested on Nov. 21, 2008 in the parking lot of Best Buy in Brownsville as he was loading his car with cocaine, Brownsville police said, adding that he had just received the cocaine from another man, who fled the scene. Police said they do not know who the other individual is.

Brownsville police were conducting an unrelated surveillance when they saw Larrazolo with suspicious suitcases that carried the cocaine, according to police.

Larrazolo's sentencing comes nearly one year after his November 2008 arrest.