Misael De La Cruz, 37, of Hialeah, and Felipe Gonzalez, 25, of Port Richey, were charged with cocaine trafficking over 400 grams following the traffic stop near the 99 mile marker. Gonzalez was additionally charged with carrying a concealed firearm.
Reports say deputies pulled over the Ford Sport Trac that Gonzalez was driving at 2:45 p.m. after noticing that the validation sticker on the license plate was improperly displayed.
Deputies noticed several air fresheners in the vehicle. They also noticed that De La Cruz and Gonzalez appeared extremely nervous. A CCSO dog trained to sniff out narcotics arrived and alerted as it made its way around the truck, indicating that there were drugs in the vehicle.
Inside deputies found two plastic bags containing a total of nearly 15 ounces of cocaine. They also found a scale. Under the seat where Gonzalez had been sitting they found a loaded handgun.
A third passenger in the vehicle was not charged.
Misael De La Cruz
Felipe Gonzalez
