Routine traffic stop turns into multiple federal charges

MARTIN COUNTY - Most criminals have probably never been accused of being the sharpest knife in the drawer.

On Oct. 9, at 11:40 p.m., Martin County Deputies were dispatched to State Highway 349 in response to calls of a reckless driver.

Once on SH 349, deputies were on the lookout for a black pickup with a license plate number matching the partial description.

It wasn’t long before deputies located the vehicle, observed some traffic violations, pulled the vehicle over, and made contact with the single occupant driver.

Enriquez Quintela, 32 of Odessa, would be in more trouble than a traffic violation.

During the course of the stop, deputies discovered Quintela was in possession of 6.4 pounds of marijuana, $6,481 in currency, and a loaded handgun.

All items were collected as evidence.

He would be arrested and booked into the Dan Saunders law Enforcement Center on charges of:

• Possession of a Controlled Substance great than five pounds and less than 50 pounds, 3rd Degree Felony

• Money laundering over $2,500 and less than $30,000, State Jail Felony

• Unlawfully Carrying a Weapon, Class A Misdemeanor.

Martin County Justice of the Peace Jarrell Hedrick set Quintela’s bonds at $20,000 for the first charge, $15,000 for the second, and $5,000 for the third.

Quintela quickly bonded out but had to leave his money behind as the Martin County Sheriff’s Office is filing asset forfeiture paperwork with the 118th District Court.

Also being arrested in October and still in custody are:

Aries Maria Gomez, 23 of Odessam on two charges of failure to appear for controlled substances;

Derrick Cursean Jackson, 43 of Houston, possession of a controlled substance.