LUFKIN, TX—A 41-year-old man from Milwaukee, Wisconsin has been convicted on federal drug and money trafficking charges in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales.

Henry Korvett Bams, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was found guilty by a jury today after a three day trial before the Honorable Michael H. Schneider. Bams was found guilty of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine in an amount of five kilograms or more and use of an interstate facility in aid of racketeering.

Bams and his co-defendant, Frederick Mitchell, were indicted on September 3, 2014. On Sunday, July 6, 2014, Bams and Mitchell were stopped for a traffic violation by the Texas Department of Public Safety while traveling southbound on U.S. Highway 259 in Nacogdoches County, Texas. The officer eventually conducted a search of the vehicle and seized approximately $253,341 in cash and a small quantity of marijuana. Following an arrest on state charges, both men were released when the charges were dismissed. In addition, the Nacogdoches County District Attorney’s office returned all but $100,000 of the seized currency to Bams and Mitchell. On July 22, 2014, Bams and Mitchell were stopped for a traffic violation by Arkansas State Police in Hot Springs County, Arkansas, on Interstate Highway 30. The officer received consent to search the vehicle and discovered approximately ten kilograms of suspected cocaine located inside hidden compartments within the vehicle. Two bank deposit slips were also discovered within the vehicle. On Aug. 1, 2014, agents with the Internal Revenue Service and the Drug Enforcement Administration executed a seizure warrant on the bank account referenced in the deposit slips and seized approximately $135,015.14 in drug proceeds.

Mitchell pleaded guilty to the charges on January 7, 2015 and was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 84 months on April 9, 2015.

Bams faces a minimum of 10 years to life in federal prison for the drug distribution violation and up to five years for the interstate transportation in aid of racketeering violation. A sentencing date has not been set.

This case is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Milwaukee, Wisconsin District Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Texas Department of Public Safety, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Baylor Wortham and Lauren Gaston.