OVER $64,000 IN CASH SEIZED IN TWO TRAFFIC STOPS

  

The Fayette County Sheriff’s Interdiction Team struck twice in the same day, seizing over $64,000 in cash.

Fayette County Sheriff Keith Korenek reports that on Wednesday  afternoon, Investigator David Smith with the Fayette County Interdiction unit stopped a 2008 Green Jeep Liberty traveling west on IH-10 for a traffic violation. After meeting with the driver, Guadalupe Ceballos (52) of Brownsville, who was highly stressed and extremely nervous, Smith became suspicious of criminal activity.  Consent to search the vehicle was given by the driver. Smith quickly located a tool bag containing bundles of U.S. Currency.  A total of $24,400 dollars was removed from the vehicle. Ceballos was transported to the Fayette County Jail and charged with felony Money Laundering.

Wednesday evening, Sgt. Randy Thumann stopped a 1997 Chevy Suburban traveling west on Hwy 290 in Carmine for a traffic violation. Sgt. Thumann noted many criminal indicators by both the driver and passenger of the vehicle. Consent to search the vehicle was denied.

Sgt. Thumann deployed his canine “Lobos” to conduct an exterior sweep of the vehicle. After a positive alert to the exterior of the vehicle Lobos was let inside and followed the scent channel to a large suit case on the second row of seats. $40,000 dollars in currency was located vacuum sealed inside the suit case. The passenger Alvaro Luis Chaves (32) of Pharr, Texas claimed responsibility of the money. Chaves was booked into the Fayette County Jail and charged with felony Money Laundering.