Nate Newton (person)

A Pro Bowl offensive lineman with the Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League.

Nate Newton was born in Orlando, FL on December 20, 1961. He attended Florida A&M and entered the NFL in 1986. He joined the Dallas Cowboys as an offensive guard. He spent 13 years with the Cowboys winning 3 Super Bowls and was voted into the Pro Bowl 6 times. He was on the "America's Team" of the early '90s playing with such notables as Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin, and Deion Sanders. Mr. Newton spent a year with the Carolina Panthers before retiring at the end of the 2000 season. He was listed at 6'3" tall and 335 lbs (152 kg) in his final season.

On November 4, 2001, Mr. Newton was arrested while driving a van through Louisiana that allegedly contained 213 lbs (97 kg) of marijuana. He was arraigned on drug distribution charges and released on $100,000 bond.

On December 12, 2001, Mr. Newton was arrested in Texas for traveling in a convoy that was transporting 175 lbs (80 kg) of marijuana worth approximately $700,000. He was arraigned on federal drug charges and held without bail.

Mr. Newton pled guilty in April 2002 to one count of conspiracy to distribute and one count of possession with intent to distribute on the Texas arrest. He was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison, a $25,000 fine, and 250 hours of community service in August 2002. He could have faced 20 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine if the case had gone to trial. The Louisiana case is pending, and Nate could face a 5 year mandatory minimum sentence.