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Wasn’t a Good Friday for Esteban Loaiza …
The ex-MLB star surrendered to authorities in San Diego on Friday to begin his 3-year prison sentence in his cocaine case — and after his sentence, he’s expected to be deported to Mexico.
As we previously reported, Loaiza — who made more than $40 MILLION during his 14-year MLB career — was arrested last year after cops say he was trying to move 44 pounds of cocaine from a house located near a school.
Cops say the coke stash is worth more than $500,000!!!
The 47-year-old was quiet and stone-faced as he walked into the federal courthouse on Friday — not saying a word to the waiting media.
The whole story is insane … Loaiza was busted by the San Diego County Sheriff’s Dept. back in Feb. 2018 during a routine traffic stop.
Cops say a search of the baseball player’s car led to the discovery of a “sophisticated aftermarket compartment used to conceal contraband.”
Cops then got a warrant to search a home that Loaiza had been renting since early February — located “steps away from an area preschool” — and found roughly 20 kilograms of suspected cocaine.
Loaiza was initially booked into San Diego County Jail for 3 felonies — Possession of Cocaine Over 20 Kilograms, Possession of Cocaine for Sale, and Transportation of Cocaine.
He later pled guilty to felony cocaine possession with intent to distribute.
Loaiza, the second-winningest pitcher from Mexico in MLB history, played for 8 different teams in his career — earning over $43 million.
He last played for the White Sox in 2008 — the same team he played for when he was an All-Star in 2003 and 2004.