THP Trooper Makes Stop And Finds 165 Pounds Of Marijuana

Nashville, Tennessee — A California man is in custody in Humphreys County on drug charges after a State Trooper stopped him for speeding on I-40.

Trooper Michael Richardson was monitoring traffic Thursday, September 27, 2007, when he spotted a Dodge Neon traveling at 85 mph in a 70 mph zone. When Trooper Richardson pulled onto the interstate to stop the vehicle, the Neon exited I-40 and pulled into a gas station.

The driver of the Neon, 42-year-old Miguel Ricardo Camarena-Gonzalez of San Fernando, California, told Trooper Richardson that he was traveling from Nevada to North Carolina. Trooper Richardson became suspicious after noticing that Camarena-Gonzalez had no luggage in the car, despite being on a cross-country trip. The suspect gave permission to search his vehicle, and that is when Trooper Richardson found nearly 165 pounds of marijuana in the trunk. The estimated street value of the marijuana is about $200,000.

Camarena-Gonzalez is charged with felony possession of marijuana with intent for resale, speeding, driving without insurance and driving with an expired license. He was booked in the Humphreys County Jail and is being held on a $200,000 bond.

The vehicle, marijuana and $1,100 were seized in accordance with state law.