Former NFL player Sam Hurd sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for role in cocaine and marijuana distribution conspiracy

DALLAS – Former professional football player Samuel George Hurd III, 28, was sentenced Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Jorge A. Solis to 15 years in federal prison for his role in a cocaine and marijuana distribution conspiracy. Hurd previously played in the National Football League.

This sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas. This investigation was led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with assistance from the Denton (Texas) Police Department.

Hurd, who is in custody, pleaded guilty in April to a superseding indictment charging him with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. That superseding indictment, which was returned by a federal grand jury March 19, 2013, alleged that from July 2011 to June 6, 2012, Hurd conspired to possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and 100 kilograms or more of marijuana. It also included a sentencing notice stating that on June 6, 2012, Hurd, while on pretrial release, attempted to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and at least 50 kilograms, but less than 100 kilograms, of marijuana.

Two co-defendants, Toby Lujan, 28, and Jesse Tyrone Chavful, 46, have also pleaded guilty to their roles in the drug conspiracy. Chavful was sentenced Oct. 23 to a total of 127 months in federal prison. Lujan is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 8.

Deputy Criminal Chief Assistant U.S. Attorney Gary Tromblay and Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Kull and Errin Martin, Northern District of Texas, prosecuted this case.