Texas lawmaker arrested after being filmed dropping envelope filled with cocaine at Austin airport

State Rep. Poncho Nevárez, an Eagle Pass Democrat and House chairman, turned himself in to authorities to be booked on felony drug possession charges Thursday evening and was released after posting his bond of $10,000, according to both the lawmaker and the Texas Department of Public Safety.

"I did," Nevárez said in a text message Friday to The Texas Tribune. "Last night in Maverick County."

A statement from DPS said the investigation involving Nevárez "remains active and no further information is available at this time."

Nevárez arrived for booking hours after authorities issued a warrant for his arrest. That arrest warrant cited surveillance footage of the lawmaker in September dropping an envelope with cocaine as he was leaving the Austin airport.

Before the warrant was issued, Nevárez, chairman of the Homeland Security & Public Safety Committee, confirmed to the Tribune in a statement that the “news is true” — and that the events detailed prompted his recent announcement to not seek reelection.

Ben Reilly wrote:

State Rep. Poncho Nevárez, an Eagle Pass Democrat and House chairman, turned himself in to authorities to be booked on felony drug possession charges Thursday evening and was released after posting his bond of $10,000, according to both the lawmaker and the Texas Department of Public Safety.

"I did," Nevárez said in a text message Friday to The Texas Tribune. "Last night in Maverick County."

A statement from DPS said the investigation involving Nevárez "remains active and no further information is available at this time."

Nevárez arrived for booking hours after authorities issued a warrant for his arrest. That arrest warrant cited surveillance footage of the lawmaker in September dropping an envelope with cocaine as he was leaving the Austin airport.

Before the warrant was issued, Nevárez, chairman of the Homeland Security & Public Safety Committee, confirmed to the Tribune in a statement that the “news is true” — and that the events detailed prompted his recent announcement to not seek reelection.

https://www.texastribune.org/2019/11/15/poncho-nevarez-turns-himself-after-dropping-envelope-cocaine/

God bless Texas.