Deputies Seize $188,000 in Suspected Drug Money

A Fayette County Sheriff Deputy seized $188,000 in cash from a woman after a traffic stop last week.

Sheriff Keith Korenek reports on Tuesday, June 13, around 10:43 a.m. Drug Interdiction Investigator David Smith stopped a 2020 Honda Civic on Interstate 10 near Flatonia for a traffic violation.

The Sheriff’s report said the driver told Smith the car was a rental, but she had no paperwork. The driver was identified as 36-year-old Guadalupe Martinez of El Paso.

“Smith observed numerous criminal indicators and received consent to search the vehicle,” the report said.

The report said Smith observed the floorboards covered with debris and bags. Smith located a bag on the floorboard, the report said, which was loaded with multiple wrapped taped bundles of what appeared to be drugs.

“The driver claimed no knowledge of the contents in the bag,” the report said. “Inside the multiple bundles taped up, wrapped, and vacuum packed Smith discovered the bundles contained cash. Deputies believed the money was proceeds of illegal drug sales, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Martinez was arrested for money laundering and transported to the Dan R. Beck Justice Center. The Sheriff reported the total amount of cash seized was $188,000.

Assisting at the scene was Drug Interdiction Sgt. Randy Thumann, his canine “Kolt,” and Deputy Herman Olvera.