The Florida Highway Patrol apprehended a pair on Interstate 75 with more than 100 illicit gift and credit cards.
A Hyundai Accent was spotted tailgating another vehicle at 2:25 p.m. Thursday while traveling southbound on I-75 near Mile Marker 317 in Sumter County.
During a traffic stop, the driver was identified as 21-year-old Michael Luis Llopiz of Tampa and “appeared overly nervous,” according to an arrest report from the FHP. The “odor of raw marijuana” was detected coming from the interior of the vehicle. Llopiz denied there was marijuana or any illegal drugs in the vehicle.
A passenger in the vehicle was identified as 22-year-old Moises Elias Suarez of Tampa and he also claimed there was no marijuana or illegal drugs in the vehicle.
A K-9 unit was summoned to the scene and the dog alerted on the vehicle indicating the likely presence of drugs.
A search of the vehicle turned up illicit gift/credit cards tucked in the doors, on the floor, in the glove compartment, in the gear shift and in the trunk. Receipts for purchases and declined transactions were also discovered in the vehicle. Some of the cards were tested and were found to have personal identification information from five separate victims.
Also located throughout the vehicle was containers and packages labeled with various THC products with small amounts of marijuana residue. Additionally, vaporizer cartridges and pens were found in the car.
Both men were arrested on multiple charges of fraud. They were booked at the Sumter County Detention Center on $110,000 bond each.
