TEXARKANA, Ark.–A Georgia man who was pulled over Oct. 10 on I-30 in Miller County allegedly had 14 bricks of cocaine in the trunk of a rented Nissan Altima.
Mark T. Oliver, 51, was stopped at about 4 p.m. Oct. 10 for following too closely behind another car by an Arkansas State Police trooper, according to a criminal complaint filed in the Texarkana Division of the Western District of Arkansas. Oliver allegedly told the trooper he was traveling from Houston to Indianapolis to “check on gaming equipment,” despite being unemployed and from Georgia, the complaint said.
The trooper also thought it was odd that Oliver was making such a lengthy trip with no luggage beyond a backpack. Oliver allegedly gave the trooper permission to search the car, leading to the discovery of a duffle bag in the trunk containing 14 bricks of suspected cocaine.
When weighed, the 14 bricks came out to more than 16 kilograms and tested positively for cocaine using a field kit.
The complaint notes that the amount of drugs found in the trunk of Oliver’s rental car is “inconsistent” with a “personal use amount” and more likely indicative that Oliver is involved in distributing drugs to others.
Oliver’s case was unsealed Wednesday following an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry Bryant in Texarkana’s downtown federal building.
Oliver is currently in federal custody.
