TAMPA, Fla. – A Tampa man who evaded authorities for nearly 15 years has finally faced the music. Zecki Halum, 40, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to federal charges related to a marijuana trafficking conspiracy.
The case dates back to August 2009 when Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents intercepted a recreational vehicle (RV) hauling over 200 pounds of marijuana from Arizona to Florida. Upon arriving in Tampa, the RV was met by another vehicle with Halum as a passenger.
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Both vehicles then proceeded to separate parking lots, one at a convenience store and another at a church in Crystal Springs. It was at these locations that law enforcement apprehended Halum and his co-conspirators, uncovering bales of marijuana packaged for distribution inside the RV.
Halum was indicted on a charge of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute over 100 kilograms of marijuana in September 2009. However, he violated the conditions of his pre-trial release in February 2010, failing to appear for court, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
The story took a surprising turn this past March when authorities finally located and apprehended Halum. His co-conspirator, Dale Wetherholt, pleaded guilty to the same offense in November 2009 and was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison the following April.
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Halum now faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 5 years, with the potential to extend up to 40 years, in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
The investigation was a joint effort between the DEA Tampa Field Division, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.
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