"Sol Prendido" for Borderland Beat
Texas Department of Public Safety troopers seized more than $380,000 and arrested one man in connection with the case.
Hugo Alfredo Mendoza-Martinez, 65, of Katy, was arrested and charged with money laundering. Webb County Jail records show he is out on bond.
As part of Operation Lone Star, a trooper overheard Laredo DPS communications broadcast to be on the lookout for a white 2011 Buick Enclave possibly transporting a large amount of money from San Antonio.
A trooper observed the vehicle traveling south on mile marker 68 of Interstate 35 in La Salle County.
Trooper pulled over the vehicle for failure to signal a lane change. DPS identified the driver as Mendoza-Martinez. Asked if he had drugs, guns or large sums of money, Meondoza-Martinez stated he only had $2,300 in his baggage.
He allegedly allowed troopers to search his vehicle but denied consent for his cellphone. A K-9 inspection of the vehicle allegedly resulted in a positive alert.
Mendoza-Martinez agreed to have DPS take the vehicle to the U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint on Interstate 35 for an X-ray scan.
Further inspection of the vehicle with the assistance of Border Patrol yielded a “well-constructed compartment,” states the affidavit.
“The compartment had a trap door that was covered with Bondo and painted to match the vehicle’s original paint,” states the affidavit.
Troopers then discovered bundles of cash inside the compartment. The cash seized was $389,620, according to DPS.
“The currency was secured in bundles wrapped in tape with numbers written on them. This is common method used by drug trade organizations for transporting illicit proceeds,” states the affidavit.
"Trooper pulled over the vehicle for failure to signal a lane change."
ReplyDeleteYeah right ;)
Exactly. They always seem to pull people on a routine traffic stop and hit the Jack pot. Uh huh yeah right.
DeleteThey are pulling people over on every little mistake...and I'm good with that because then they can check for illegals. I was stopped for a headlight out, I drive a small suv, a oilfield hand was stopped for going a couple of miles over the speed limit, he drives a double cab big pickup and was also checked for illegals another dude same story...
DeleteSmart ass rich buy that stuff, and cartels need to get the money back for Payroll
ReplyDeleteSomeone dimed him out
ReplyDeleteLesson to be learned here. When transporting 300+K do not fail to use your blinkers. When asked by the police about guns or cash in vehicle say NO. When asked for consent to search your vehicle say NO.When asked for permission to X-Ray your vehicle say NO.
ReplyDeleteAfter giving all other permissions, denying a search of your cell phone is silly. With all other evidence in hand, getting a judge to OK a search warrant for said cell phone is a given. Oops!!
Hey if your real sincere, and apologetic, I am sure "your friends" will forgive your "little" transgression. What's a lost 300k and cell phone linking them to it among chums?
Wouldn’t have made a difference. The tip almost certainly came from an informant, which if corroborated can provide reasonable suspicion to support the stop. The K9 alert gives police probable cause to search the car. There was nothing this guy could do.
DeleteReally?
DeleteAs soon as you say no, they simply say you were acting suspicious or they smelled weed in the car. Theres a million ways around you saying no, every person on Cops says NO to search and 2 mins later the cops are somehow searching their car lol.
DeleteI love how cops have to lie and make up some bs reason to pull people over when they KNOW stuff is being transported. Before the videos, 5 yrs ago, somebody I know was pulled over who they KNEW was carrying. Cop went to car, knocked out tail light then proceeded to walk up and say ' I noticed your tail light was out, so I pulled you over...' Needless to say this dumb 23 yr old had been transporting a small amount of pot.
ReplyDeleteWe're missing the point of the story, it's a dirty cop they pulled over, the dirty cop uses the same tactics, it doesn't matter, the story is about the dirty cop running money to the border. Jeez
DeleteWhere does it say he was a cop? I'm confused
DeleteThese guys have kind of tricks to pull you over... One time I saw a state trooper take off and I was sure he was going to pull me over...he speed up right behind me, really close... I pull over to the right lane to let him pass...unfortunately I was behind a semi...he then turns his lights on, slows down and pull me over for following the semi to close...I called him out, told him go ahead and search my car...he was surprised I let him search before he asked... I had nothing...
ReplyDeletePeople see a cop and they panic.. gotta learn how to keep it cool ..
ReplyDeleteOne time when we were bringing someone frm the RGV up to Dallas the driver was talking hot shit about how he was a cool headed guy and supposedly done this hundreds of times 🤣 at the falfurrias checkpoint he started mumbling and shaking. I was like yeaaaa we are fcked🤣. Smh
LMV cochos ✌️
El Benny. A guy I knew would pop a Valium to calm his nerves during a trip. I only knew him a short while so can't attest to the success rate. What think you of this tactic?
DeleteJames brown it works so I've heard..
DeleteThis guy is a dead man!
ReplyDeleteWhere ever he came from or whomever he met was already under investigation and more than likely they’re phones were tapped
ReplyDeleteThey have machines on the side of the roads that detect money... I know a few people who have been pulled over with cash...one person multiple times.
ReplyDelete2:11 pm is the same thing before you cross the border in to MX.
DeleteStupid crash dummies come in all colors and sizes: I wonder who paid the idiots Bond he'll be arrested again for Failure to appear local cops should have gotten the guy for their forfeiture account DPS doesn't need it but looks like the locals don't listen to the Radio or DPS got gretty for not sharing information In this world there is greed and backstabbing among cops and Criminals it knows no boundaries.
ReplyDeleteMy bet is the police picked up a text or a cell call by using a piece of equipment made by Harris Corp named String Ray. They will never own up to it in court but they are reading your text message and listening to your calls. Think, if it's in the air, it can be intercepted.
ReplyDeleteSting ray
DeleteEmf shield
Well what ever Happy he got caught ..
ReplyDeleteFUNNY how you guys hate drug cartels and all their crap
But when a good cop pulls one over and gets the Cash Ya all are like hateing on the law
WHY ?
Of course you horse, why because we love too.
DeleteYou can hate both... Yeah the guy caught was a bad guy but there are thousands of people who have lost money without being charged with these tactics, millions of dollars worth, look it up.. Cops also take advantage...
DeleteGuy was just delivering the cops their monthly payment, just needed to be confiscated to make it official grab and save face.
Deleteand you know it guys!
A mi tío lo torcieron por el puro hecho que se paniqueo, se metió varias líneas de polvo antes de aventarse el viaje .
ReplyDelete