2 women arrested on Ohio Turnpike after $750,000 in cocaine seized

7/7/2009

Two Lorain, Ohio women were arrested after five kilos of cocaine valued at $750,000 were seized from their vehicle during a traffic stop Monday night on the Ohio Turnpike in Springfield Township, the Ohio Highway Patrol said.

The driver, Jessica M. Rojas, 34, and passenger, Amberly L. Findley, 25, were each charged with aggravated trafficking and aggravated possession, both first-degree felonies, and possession of criminal tools, a fifth-degree felony.

Troopers stopped a sport-utility vehicle near milepost 57 for a marked lanes violation about 10:46 p.m. The SUV was eastbound on the turnpike, according to patrol's headquarters in Columbus.

A patrol drug-sniffing dog then led troopers to five kilos of cocaine and what they said was a large amount of U.S. currency in the vehicle.

The women were booked in the Lucas County jail pending arraignment Tuesday in Maumee Municipal Court.

If convicted, each could face up to 21 years in prison and a $22,500 fine, troopers said.