$188,000 FOUND IN CAR IN FAYETTE CO.

  

An El Paso woman was arrested Tuesday in Fayette County after $188,000 was found in her car.

Fayette County Sheriff Keith Korenek reports on Tuesday morning around 10:45, Drug Interdiction Investigator David Smith conducted a traffic stop near Flatonia on a 2020 Honda Civic passenger car for a traffic violation.  After contact was made with the driver who advised Smith it was a rental car but had no paperwork, Smith observed numerous criminal indicators and received consent to search the vehicle. Smith observed the floorboards covered with debris and bags.  A bag located on the floorboard was loaded with multiple wrapped taped bundles of what appeared to be drugs. The driver claimed no knowledge of the contents in the bag. Inside the multiple bundles taped up, wrapped, and vacuum-packed, Smith discovered the bundles contained cash.  Assisting at the scene was Drug Interdiction Sgt. Randy Thumann, his canine “Kolt”, and Deputy Herman Olvera. The female driver identified as 36 yr. old Guadalupe Martinez, of El Paso, was arrested for money laundering and transported to the Dan R. Beck Justice Center. The total amount of cash money seized was $188,000.