East Coast man arrested with more than 30 pounds of marijuana and suitcase filled with cash
- Lake County News reports
- Posted On
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Following an early morning traffic stop on Tuesday, a Lake County Sheriff’s deputy arrested an East Coast man who was found with more than 30 pounds of marijuana in his car and a suitcase filled with a large amount of cash.
Lt. Corey Paulich said Mehir Patel, 26, of Charlotte, North Carolina was arrested following the stop.
At 12:20 a.m. Tuesday, a Lake County Sheriff’s deputy was patrolling the area of Highway 20 near New Long Valley Road in Clearlake Oaks when he observed a Toyota Rav4 that was exceeding the posted speed limit and traveling east on Highway 20, Paulich said.
Paulich said the deputy conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle for the speeding violation and contacted the driver and only occupant of the vehicle, identified as Patel.
While the deputy was speaking to Patel, he could smell an overwhelming odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. Paulich said Patel told the deputy he had been visiting friends in Willits and was returning home.
When questioned about marijuana in the vehicle Patel first told the deputy he did not have any, but upon further questioning admitted to having approximately 30 pounds in the vehicle. Paulich said Patel told the deputy he planned to transport the marijuana to Los Angeles where he would sell it for a $100 per pound profit.
Paulich said the deputy searched the vehicle and located 32 individually wrapped one-pound packages of marijuana as well as $151,000 in a suitcase.
Patel told the deputy he had planned on purchasing more marijuana in Willits but the price was not low enough, Paulich said.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Patel was not able to be booked at the Lake County Jail, Paulich said.
Paulich said the marijuana and money were seized and the case will be forwarded to the Lake County District Attorney’s Office for review.
The sheriff’s office is requesting the district attorney charge Patel with possessing over $100,000 for the purchase of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale and transportation of marijuana for sale, Paulich said.