Co-Defendant Of Ex-NFL Receiver Pleads Guilty To Drug Charge

Chicago Bears' Sam Hurd waits for a pass before an NFL preseason football game against the Buffalo Bills in Chicago on Aug. 13, 2011.

DALLAS -- A Dallas man charged along with former NFL player Sam Hurd pleaded guilty Friday to attempting to buy several kilograms of cocaine with Hurd's money in hopes of establishing a large-scale drug distribution network.

Toby Lujan pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. His plea deal calls for a prison sentence of 5 to 40 years. It also requires him to testify if asked by prosecutors.

Lujan signed court documents saying he told a law enforcement informant in December about a potential drug buyer named "Sam" who played for the Chicago Bears. Lujan gave the informant Hurd's phone number so the two could discuss prices and quantities of cocaine.

One week later, Hurd was arrested after an alleged meeting at a Chicago area steakhouse with an undercover officer posing as a drug trafficker. According to court documents, Hurd accepted a package of what he thought was cocaine and told the officer he wanted to buy five to 10 kilograms of cocaine and 1,000 pounds of marijuana per week to distribute in the Chicago area.

Hurd has pleaded not guilty.

Lujan's attorney, Andrew Garcia Jr., declined to comment Friday on why Lujan decided to plead guilty. Hurd's attorneys did not immediately return messages seeking comment.

Trial for Hurd and a third defendant, his cousin Jesse Tyrone Chavful, is scheduled for October 9.

Lujan was pulled over in July 2011 in a Cadillac Escalade belonging to Hurd, prosecutors said. He was carrying $88,000 in a canvas bag stained with marijuana residue. That same day, Lujan tried to purchase several kilograms of cocaine for Hurd, according to prosecutors.

"Lujan knew that Hurd wanted to acquire cocaine to sell to others, and Lujan agreed to help Hurd with this illicit venture," said a court filing signed by both Lujan and prosecutors.

Lujan allegedly told an informant that he could conduct drug deals after hours at a car-care shop where he worked in suburban Dallas.

The Bears would eventually cut Hurd, a San Antonio native who also played for the Dallas Cowboys. He was out on $100,000 bond, but was arrested earlier this month after failing two drug tests. Hurd admitted to using marijuana, according to prosecutors.

He is scheduled to appear before a Dallas magistrate judge Tuesday.

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Republican Denies Eyebrow-Raising Assault Charge

In this Sept. 26, 2011, file photo Rep. Joe Heck, R-Nev., talks at a news conference about jobs legislation in Las Vegas. Heck said he will have no problem running for reelection after his vote for House Republicans $3.5 trillion budget plan. But the freshman who won his seat in Nevada?s most competitive House district by just 1,748 votes in 2010 will face a strong challenge from Nevada Assembly Speaker John Oceguera who is already calling the Ryan plan, passed just two weeks ago, one of his ke

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The ex-wife of Nevada Rep. Joe Heck accused the freshman lawmaker of assaulting her during their marriage in the 1980s in a sworn statement, a charge Heck vehemently denies.

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Charge Against Missing Mom's Boyfriend Upgraded To Murder

The family of homicide victim Kelly Armstrong said media attention prompted Indiana prosecutors to upgrade charges against boyfriend Travis Funke from manslaughter to murder.

"We honestly think that the DA would not have done this if it was not for the national attention brought by The Huffington Post and local efforts by FOX59. We just don't think he would have done it," said Armstrong's cousin, Charity Grable.

Prosecutor Mark McCann filed the murder charge against 34-year-old Funke on Friday afternoon, according to Howard Superior Court Judge Brant Howard. A hearing has been scheduled for Tuesday.

This is the second victory in a week for Armstrong's family. On Tuesday, a plea deal that may have freed Funke in 17-1/2 years and allowed him to retain custody of his 4-year-old son was withdrawn.

Armstrong's family members, saying the plea deal wasn't discussed with them, had expressed anger and filed a formal
complaint against McCann.

Armstrong's father said the plea deal fell apart amid media reports. He singled out the Huffington Post for being the first national news organization to report on the issue.

"I think it was a combination of those things," Armstrong said Thursday, referring to the media attention and the family's protests.

Armstrong told HuffPost Friday he is pleased that prosecutors upgraded the charge to murder, but upset it took so long. "It should have been done a long time ago," he said.

Kelly Armstrong, 28, disappeared in August 2011. She and Funke lived together with their baby in Kokomo, about 50 miles north of Indianapolis. Funke was arrested on Sept. 28, 2011, on an unrelated warrant. When authorities interviewed Funke on Jan. 6, Funke told investigators he killed Armstrong around July 1, 2011, police said. He said he placed her body in a garbage bin. Multiple searches have failed to locate Armstrong's body.

CASE PHOTOS: (Story Continues Below)

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Kelly Armstrong, 28, disappeared in August 2011.

Kelly Armstrong was reported missing in Kokomo, Indiana on Sept. 26, 2011.

In February, Howard County Prosecutor Mark McCann charged Travis Funke with voluntary manslaughter.

Authorities interviewed Travis Funke about Kelly Armstrong (pictured) on Jan. 6. During the interview he allegedly told investigators he had killed Armstrong around July 1, 2011. "[Funke] stated that he and Kelly had been fighting for three days ... Funke stated that he fell asleep on the couch and he awoke to Kelly hitting the couch with a hammer. Funke stated that he believes that Kelly hit him on the head with the hammer and knocked him out. Funke stated that, when he came to, Kelly was dead on the floor and bleeding from the head. Funke said that he has memories of hitting her in the head with a hammer but thought that it was a dream," the affidavit reads. Funke allegedly said he placed a plastic bag on Armstrong's head, wrapped her in a tarp and put her in a trash tote. The garbage container was supposedly picked up later that same day and the contents were dumped at Wabash Valley Landfill in Wabash. Authorities spent several days sifting through rubbish at the landfill but they were unable to locate Armstrong's remains.

An undated photo of Kelly Armstrong.

An undated photo of Kelly Armstrong.

Kelly Armstrong's missing person flyer.

The district attorney's office and Kokomo police have repeatedly declined to discuss the investigation with The Huffington Post.

While law enforcement has stopped actively searching for Kelly Armstrong, her family continues to lead community searches. Grable said those efforts are suffering. "We have no idea where to go -- where to look for her and we can't get a professional search group to come help us," she said.

Grable said the family had pinned hopes on additional media coverage.

"We have reached out to CNN and Fox News to help us get more national coverage, but they won't even bother to return our messages," Grable said.

People interested in helping search or donating funds can do so at Operationfindkelly.yolasite.com. The family also maintains a Facebook page devoted to the case.

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