A Texas man on federal supervised release now faces new charges after being caught with a significant amount of cocaine during a traffic stop in Florida.
Hector Villarreal, 36, of Pasadena, Texas, was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.
The incident unfolded on June 27th when deputies from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office pulled over Villarreal for a traffic violation on Interstate 75 near Lake City. During the stop, deputies observed suspicious behavior and requested a canine search of the vehicle.
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The canine alerted to the presence of narcotics, leading to the discovery of sealed cardboard boxes containing a staggering 30 kilograms (approximately 66 pounds) of cocaine.
Villarreal was already under federal supervision following a previous conviction. The indictment also indicates the government’s intention to seize any assets Villarreal used in connection with the alleged offense.
The investigation is being led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney A. Tysen Duva will prosecute the case.
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