Traffic stop yields more than 600 pounds of marijuana

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A traffic stop Wednesday on I-30 east ended with the seizure of more than 600 pounds of marijuana and a federal criminal complaint.

Sammy Longoria, 57, was allegedly speeding Wednesday morning when Arkansas State Police Sgt. Chris Goodman pulled over his white Ford F-150 truck at mile marker 23 on eastbound I-30 in Hempstead County, according to a criminal complaint filed in the Texarkana Division of the Western District of Arkansas. Goodman became suspicious when Longoria, who appeared extremely nervous because he was “shaking and his voice was trembling,” gave vague answers to the trooper’s questions about his travel.

Longoria, of Arlington, Texas, allegedly claimed he was driving to Indiana to apply for work but never responded when Goodman asked him what kind of work he was seeking. Longoria allegedly had difficulty telling Goodman the name of the last company that employed him.
Longoria allegedly gave Goodman permission to search his pickup. Goodman noticed seven cardboard Home Depot boxes which were boxed with an unusually large amount of tape. Also discovered was a large duffel bag bulging with rectangular shapes.

The boxes and duffel bag were found to contain 27 bales of marijuana which weigh approximately 613 pounds, according to the federal complaint. Longoria allegedly confessed that he was being paid to take the marijuana to Indiana.

Longoria is currently being held in the Hempstead County jail. No bail has been set. Longoria is scheduled to make an initial court appearance in Texarkana federal court Friday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry Bryant.

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