A Dallas County jury has found 48-year-old Jose Banda guilty of multiple drug-related offenses, including Manufacture and Delivery of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver, following his arrest during a narcotics surveillance operation in East Dallas. Banda was sentenced to 25 years in prison after entering a plea and waiving his right to appeal.
The Dallas Police Department’s Crime Response Team had been monitoring an area in East Dallas known for drug trafficking when officers observed hand-to-hand transactions from the passenger side of a vehicle. Deployment units alerted uniformed officers, who conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle, which was found to be displaying a license plate altered with electrical tape.
During the stop, officers observed that the driver appeared to be under the influence. After questioning, she admitted there were pills in the vehicle. A subsequent search revealed a black bag on the passenger side containing over 45 grams of crystal meth, more than six grams of powder meth, heroin, multiple alprazolam pills, over four grams of fentanyl pills individually packaged for sale, a scale, a meth pipe, and unused small baggies.
Banda, who was seated in the passenger seat, was identified as the individual seen making the transactions. The driver later claimed responsibility for the drugs at the jail, during the investigation, and on the witness stand, but the jury found her testimony lacking credibility and determined Banda had knowledge of the contents and intent to distribute.
Banda was found guilty of simple possession of heroin, methamphetamine, and alprazolam, and guilty of possession with intent to deliver fentanyl. With two prior felony enhancements, Banda agreed to a 25-year sentence.
The case was prosecuted by Lead Prosecutor Jui Kothare and Second Chair Mason Rodriguez. DA Investigator Tom Naulty and the Dallas Police Department conducted the investigation.
