Every so often, the world of professional sports is rocked by a drug scandal. From Lance Armstrong’s use of performance enhancers to Lamar Odom’s cocaine abuse, it’s not that unheard of that an athlete gets caught in this type of controversy. However, I can’t think of any athlete who’s been caught with 44 pounds of cocaine and/or heroin. That’s a new one, and that’s precisely what’s happened to former MLB pitcher Esteban Loaiza last week.
Loaiza, 46, was arrested in San Diego on Friday on three drug-related felony charges, including intent to sell. He faces up up 20 years in prison, should he be convicted. As USA Today reports, Loaiza is being held at South Bay Detention Facility on $200,000 bail and is set to appear in court on Wednesday. TMZ is also reporting that police say Loaiza was dealing $500,000 of cocaine from his home, which is located steps from a preschool. He was stopped by the cops for a minor traffic violation, when the cops discovered a "sophisticated aftermarket compartment used to conceal contraband" in his car.
The All-Star pitcher played 14 seasons in the major leagues. He amassed $43 million throughout his career, playing for eight different teams, including the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Texas Rangers, the Toronoto Blue Jays, the New York Yankees, the Washington Nationals, the Oakland Athletics, and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Loaiza last played for the White Sox in 2008. He's also the MLB's second-winning-est pitcher born in Mexico. Loaiza was previously arrested for a DUI back in 2006.
