FERNANDO MONTES-SAENZ FOUND GUILTY BY OCONEE JURY. JUDGE SENTENCES TO 30 YEARS, MAXIMUM ALLOWED

Fernando Montes-Saenz was convicted today in Oconee County General Sessions Court for Trafficking Cocaine in Excess of 400 grams. Circuit Judge Howard King sentenced Montes-Saenz to 30 years, the maximum allowed by SC law.

On February 13, 2006, the defendant was stopped on I-85 in Oconee County for Speeding and Improper Lane Travel. After a brief discussion with the defendant, an officer with the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office conducted an outer search of the vehicle with a drug dog. The dog alerted on a hidden compartment under the back seat of the Volkswagen Passat. The compartment held 30 bricks of cocaine weighing 29,823 grams with a street value of almost $3,000,000. 

“This verdict and sentence shows that law enforcement and the Tenth Circuit Solicitor’s Office are actively engaged in the fight to curb drug trafficking through the upstate of SC. I-85 has become heavily used by drug traffickers through Oconee and Anderson County. Law enforcement in both counties has provided excellent coverage of this area as well as outstanding investigative work in addressing this problem. My office will continue to seek stiff penalties for those who attempt to bring drugs into and through Oconee and Anderson Counties. We are very pleased with the sentence in this case.” Solicitor Chrissy Adams.