Esteban Loaiza, two-time former all-star pitcher, was arrested on Friday evening after the San Diego County Sherrif recovered 44 pounds of cocaine from his rented home in the Imperial Beach community. According to the Associated Press of San Diego, the former MLB star could be linked to an ongoing narcotics probe and could be involved in an elaborate drug trafficking scheme.
Who is Esteban Loaiza?
Esteban Loaiza was born in Mexico in 1971 and completed his graduation in Californa after which time he was signed by the Pittsburg Pirates as a free agent.
After showing off his arm in the rookie league, Loaiza finally got his big break in 1995 when he started for the Pirates against Philadelphia Phillies and registered his first ever Major League Baseball win. From then on, Loaiza never looked back and continued to dazzle with his pitching. In 2003, he was signed by the Chicago White Sox and went on to lead the American League in strikeouts with 207 victims to his name and stood in second place in terms of wins. The Mexican superstar won accolades for his performance and was selected for the all-star team in both 2003 and 2004. Loaiza played for the Texas Rangers, New York Yankees, Toronto Jay Blues, Oakland Athletics, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Washington Nationals in his 14-year illustrious career.
The 46-year-old ended his career in 2008 earning $43 million from MLB.
The heart of the matter
Loaiza was driving to his rented home, in the community of Imperial Beach, when the San Diego police Sherrif pulled him over for a routine traffic violation. On inspecting Loaiza's car, the Sherrif came across a sophisticated concealed article that made the Sherrif question Loaiza further.
Later in the day, the police obtained a warrant to raid Loaiza's apartment and found packages filled with white powder which they believe to be cocaine. The former MLB star was taken into custody, immediately, and charged with three felonies. The 46-year-old was charged with possession of drugs, transporting narcotics, and possession with intent to sell.
The MLB star's bail was set at $200,000 and he elected to remain in police custody. Loaiza, however, pled not guilty yesterday to all the three felonies in the Chula Vista court in California. If found guilty, the former star could face up to twenty years and eight months in prison, destroying all that he had once gained playing for various franchises in fourteen seasons in Major League Baseball.
