Convicted Drug Mule: 'That's Not Who I Am'

The college student convicted of trafficking cocaine tearfully protested her innocence from a Henry County Jail cell on Wednesday.

Yvette Perkins says she was a college student, an arena football dancer, and a dance teacher.

A verdict form says she is also guilty of trafficking in cocaine and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. The jury spoke and now she has decided to speak to Channel 2.

"It hurt me a lot because that's not who I am. I would never do something like that. That's not me. Period. I don't understand how they could see that to be me. I don't see how they couldn't understand. I could be one of their daughters, a niece, a nephew, a son. How this could happen to anybody," said Perkins.

Convicted Drug Mule Speaks Out -- Part 2

She says she's getting through her time in jail through trust in God.

"I have strong faith and it's higher than any court could ever sentence me to. 25 years. Period. Strong faith. I believe it in my heart," said Perkins.

She maintains she's in jail because she trusted the wrong person, a supposed hip-hop music figure who asked her to drive a rented car to Albany, Ga. which turned out to have close to a kilo of cocaine and a gun in it.

"I trusted him," said Perkins. "There was no reason not to trust him."

Perkins says that she didn't know there were drugs or a gun in the vehicle.

"Absolutely not! Absolutely not. There would be no way I would get into a car like that," said Perkins.

"The jury found she was in knowing possession, so that dispute has been resolved the way our system resolves those kinds of disputes," said District Attorney Tommy Floyd.

Floyd says under the law the judge had to sentence Perkins to a mandatory minimum 25 years in prison and a million dollar fine and she got that fine and 25 years to serve.

He said he's not talking about this case specifically, but that he's opposed to mandatory minimum sentences.

"And most prosecutors in the state are opposed to mandatory minimum sentences," said Floyd.

Her attorney, Lee Sexton, says even for a drug courier who was guilty, and he says he is adamant he does not believe she is, the minimum mandatory 25 year sentence is outrageous for someone who is not a higher-up in the organization.

But Floyd suggested the legislature was trying to send a very strong message.