Fleeing drug smuggler sent to federal prison

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - A 34-year-old Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, man has been ordered to prison for attempting to smuggle cocaine through the Border Patrol checkpoint near Kingsville, announced Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck.

Eric Barclay pleaded guilty Jan. 22 to possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzalez Ramos has now ordered Barclay to serve 120 months in federal prison to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard evidence Barclay fled on foot from law enforcement following a high-speed vehicle pursuit.

On July 25, 2024, Christopher Seabrook drove a silver Chrysler to the Javier Vega Jr. BP checkpoint near Sarita. Barclay was the passenger.

At the initial inspection, Seabrook fled and led law enforcement on a chase reaching speeds up to 125 miles per hour.

Authorities brought the vehicle to a stop by puncturing its tires, at which time Barclay tried to flee on foot. Following his apprehension and subsequent search of the vehicle, law enforcement discovered 10 bundles of cocaine weighing 9.8 kilograms hidden in the rear panels.

The narcotics have an estimated street value of $210,000.

Barclay has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.

Seabrook, 51, Philadelphia, was previously ordered to serve 120 months in federal prison.

BP and Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Texas Highway Patrol and the Philadelphia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Lamont and Ashley Pruitt prosecuted the case.