A FedEx driver in Texas has been arrested on suspicion of selling cocaine and other drugs to customers while dropping off their packages, according to police.
Kenneth Hicks was arrested last week after a sting operation by detectives from the Gillespie County Sheriff’s Office, which was launched in March following a tip-off from a concerned neighbor.
“We were notified that there was an individual that worked for FedEx that was selling narcotics while doing his actual route as a FedEx delivery person,” Gillespie County Sheriff Christopher Ayala said.
Over two months, undercover officers gained Hicks’ trust and subsequently bought cocaine, crystal MDMA, and vape pens containing THC – the active ingredient in marijuana – from him on four separate occasions, police said.
“The biggest one is he was selling cocaine on a regular basis to people in Gillespie County,” Ayala said, adding that it is unknown how many people besides undercover law enforcement that Hicks was allegedly selling to.
Charges against Hicks will vary depending on the outcome of the ongoing investigation, though he is currently facing four charges of the manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance, the sheriff’s department said.
The Independent has contacted the sheriff’s department for further information on the arrest and the charges against Ayala.
A specialist GCSO narcotics team, along with special agents from the Texas Department of Public Safety, carried out a warrant against Hicks as he was on his route on May 6, according to a previous statement from police.
Cocaine and a THC vape were found in plain view on the dash of his FedEx truck and more vapes were found in his lunch bag and in the front pocket of his work uniform, according to police.
“He was totally caught off guard when they made the arrest,” Ayala told KENS5. “The ultimate goal is to say that we’re doing our best as the Gillespie County Sheriff’s Office to eliminate narcotics being sold in Gillespie County.”
The cocaine confiscated from Hicks’ truck weighed 25.85 grams, and the THC content of the vapes was found to be higher than the legal state limit of 0.3 percent, police said.
The Independent has attempted to contact legal representatives for Hicks. The Independent has also sought comment from FedEx.