CHP finds more than $400K in suspected drug money during Fresno County traffic stops

Hundreds of thousands of dollars were located by California Highway Patrol officers and K-9s during traffic stops along Interstate 5 in Fresno County, according to authorities.

At about 12:15 p.m. on Oct. 22, a CHP officer stopped a 2019 Dodge Ram for following too close on northbound Interstate 5 at West California Avenue, according to Merced area CHP Officer Eric Zuniga.

According to a CHP social media post, the officer noted several factors during the stop that led him to believe the driver and passenger were engaged in criminal activity.

Authorities said the officer developed probable cause to search the vehicle and in doing so, located about $300,000 in U.S. currency heat sealed in plastic bags. CHP K-9 “Bruce” was called upon to perform a sniff of the packages and indicated the heat sealed currency was contaminated with the odor of narcotics, the CHP said.

According to Zuniga, the driver, identified as Elliot Jay Martin, 50, of Arcata, and passenger India Lyn Pierce, 46, of Medical Lake Wash., were arrested on suspicion of transportation of more than $100,000 suspected of being derived from the sale, possession for sale, transportation or manufacture of narcotics.

Later that afternoon at 4:48 p.m., a 2020 Chevrolet Silverado was stopped by an officer, also for following too close, on Interstate 5 at South Russell Avenue, according to Zuniga. During the stop, the officer noted several factors and tradecraft which authorities said led him to believe the driver, identified as Lawrence Albert Dentico, 38, of La Jolla, was engaged in criminal activity.

CHP K-9 Beny was called upon to perform and exterior sniff of the vehicle and reportedly alerted officers to the odor of narcotics. During a search of the vehicle, officers located marijuana and $179,880 in a backpack, according to the post.

Authorities said additional evidence led officers to believe Dentico was engaged in drug sales. He was arrested on suspicion of transportation of more than $100,000 suspected of being derived from the sale, possession for sale, transportation or manufacture of narcotics, according to the CHP.

The charges were forwarded to the Fresno County District Attorney Office, according to Zuniga.

This story was originally published November 1, 2021 at 5:00 PM with the headline "CHP finds more than $400K in suspected drug money during Fresno County traffic stops."