Sam Hurd, Graduate of the Nate Newton School of Stupid Drug Dealers

After reviewing the criminal complaint filed against failed drug dealer (and failed Dallas Cowboys wide receiver) Sam Hurd, I’m convinced he’s a graduate of the Nate Newton School of Stupid Drug Dealers.

Former Dallas Cowboys player Nate Newton created an extensive marijuana distribution ring that he claimed earned him $75,000 a transaction. He was caught twice smuggling weed from Texas to Georgia and spent 2 ½ years in prison.

Newton gave this infamous quote in 2005: “I’ve always been competitive. I’ve always been in sports. I couldn’t see myself not being the biggest dope man.”

According to the complaint filed by Dallas Division HSI Special Agent George Ramirez, Hurd told an informant he was looking to buy between $125,000-250,000 worth of cocaine and another $450,000 of marijuana every week.

But last summer he went to the cops to recover his seized $88,000? Hurd’s associate T.L. was pulled over in Texas with a “canvas bag, covered in a green leafy plant…field tested positive for the properties of marijuana” containing $88,000. So Hurd went and claimed the money which had been seized by the police …but what about the weed? The cash was his, but the weed wasn’t? 

Then, when Hurd met with the undercover agent and informant in Chicago, he told them the money that was seized couldn’t be traced to him. Even though he claimed the seizure himself.

Hurd told an undercover Dallas HSI agent that he already was distributing four kilograms of cocaine weekly but that his supplier couldn’t keep up with the demand from his customers, according to the criminal complaint.

The complaint makes multiple references to Hurd’s “personal cell phone.”  And given that he was rolling in cars registered in his name and picking up kilos himself, it looks like Hurd failed to spend an extra $40 per month for a “burner” cell. I guess he already had unlimited minutes on his personal cell, so why “waste” the $40 bucks? Except…well, the next question.

The complaint states Hurd wanted to acquire Mexican cell phones, because the law couldn’t eavesdrop on those calls. No wonder he couldn’t run his routes when playing wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys. Hurd is a native of San Antonio.  But apparently, he spent his time hanging out with the jocks not the drug smugglers.

Hurd told the undercover HSI agent that a “(co-conspirator) is in charge of doing the majority of the deals” while he focused on “higher-end deals,” according to the complaint. He agreed to pay $25,000 for each kilogram of cocaine and $450 a pound for the marijuana, according to the charges, and then said he could pay for a kilo of cocaine — about 2.2 pounds — after “he gets out of practice.” He walked out of the restaurant with the package and was arrested.

By the way, in 2010, Hurd was named the Cowboys’ “Ed Block Courage” award winner. The award is voted on by teammates and given to “role models of inspiration, sportsmanship and courage.”  When I was on the job at HSI (formerly Customs Investigations) it was often said that we only caught the dumb asses.  See Sam Hurd for details. 

And here’s a hint for all you wannabe NFL drug dealers.  Your time would be much better spent watching re-runs of “The Wire” on DirecTv Audience 101 than “Weeds” on HBO.