Bus Compartments Hold a Surprise

Fayette County Sheriff Keith Korenek reports on Sunday at 1:55 p.m. Reserve Drug Interdiction Investigator Jeremy Ellison conducted a traffic stop on a bus traveling west on I-10 for a traffic violation. The driver gave inconsistent stories about his travel pattern and other criminal indicators were observed. Consent to search the bus was given and during the search concealed compartments were located. Deputy Terry Guentert assisted at the scene along with Flatonia P.D. Officer Chris Kucera. Ellison located several vacuumed sealed packages in a sealed compartment, which contained $186,070 in U.S. currency. Drug Interdiction Investigators David Smith and Sgt. Randy Thumann also responded and assisted. Arrested and transported to the Dan R. Beck Justice Center was 55 yr. old Jose Luis Salazar of Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Salazar was charged with money laundering. There were four passengers on the bus who were released.