Traffic stop leads to drug bust

HOPE – On Sunday, February 4, at approximately 11:47 a.m., while working criminal interdiction on Interstate 30, Deputy Reyn Brown conducted a traffic stop on a red Mercury Regency at mile marker 23 eastbound, in Hempstead County. Deputy Brown observed the above vehicle going at a slower rate of speed than normal and had very dark tinted windows.

Deputy Brown made contact with the female driver and passenger Quintrill Riley. While speaking with Riley, Deputy Brown smelled a very strong odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. Deputy Brown could tell Riley appeared to be very nervous and his hands were shaking.

Deputy Brown asked the female to step out of the vehicle and speak with him. Once the female was at the rear of her vehicle Deputy Brown asked her if there was anything illegal inside the vehicle, because he could smell marijuana. She stated there was a little weed inside the vehicle.

Deputy Brown asked her where it was at and she stated it is on Riley. Deputy Brown asked Quantrill to step out of the vehicle. When Riley opened the passenger’s door of the vehicle to step out, Deputy Brown noticed a very large amount of U.S. currency in the door panel. Brown asked Riley if he had anything illegal on his person and he stated a little weed. Riley reached into his left pants pocket and pulled out a clear bag containing a green leafy substance suspected to be marijuana. Deputy Brown searched Riley person and located another large amount of US currency in his right pants pocket.

Deputy Brown began to search the vehicle. Investigator McBride arrived and helped search the vehicle. Investigator McBride began searching the trunk of the vehicle. Deputy McBride observed a black plastic sack sitting on top of a large speaker box on the left side of the trunk. Inside the black plastic sack contained $20,825 in US currency. The US currency was in bundles rubber banded together mostly in stacks of $1000.

Investigator McBride continued searching and located a gray plastic bag inside of a brown Gucci bag containing $8,001 in US currency. The US currency was all bundled together using rubber bands. At this time, Riley was detained. When Investigator McBride located the US currency in the trunk, Riley held his arms out and reportedly stated “I knew I was going to jail for this.” The US currency in the door panel was $1,220 in US currency. Riley had $855.00 in US currency in his right pants pocket.

The US currency totaled $30,901 was packaged and taken as evidence and safe keeping. The vehicle was impounded by Reese Wrecker Service.

Riley was transported to the HCDF. While in route, Riley advised he had some marijuana in his pants. Riley told Deputy Brown when he got behind them he got scared and put some marijuana in his pants, but the bag came open and it was loose in his pants. Upon arrival at the HCDF, Riley was searched and located some more marijuana that fell out of his pants. Riley was charged for possession of a controlled substance ‘marijuana’ and given a court date of April 2 at 9 a.m. Riley was turned over to the on-duty jail staff for booking process. The female driver was issued a warning for tinted windows and released.