According to Focus Daily News, the Ellis County District Attorney’s Office has filed a seizure petition against nearly half a million dollars in cash and property.
On July 17, 2013, Texas troopers stopped a 2007 Kenworth driven by Omar Nicolas Lopez, of Mission, Texas.
Lopez told troopers that he owned the truck and was on his way back to Texas from Chicago.
Troopers became suspicious of Lopez after reviewing his log book and observing his behavior.
Lopez gave his consent for troopers to search his truck.
During the search of the sleeper berth, and with the aid of a drug dog, troopers found 45 heat-sealed bundles of cash. Investigators believe the cash was packaged for distribution in a manner that is often consistent with drug trafficking. Lopez denied knowledge of the cash.
Lopez was arrested and charged with laundering over $100,000. He was later released on a $60,000 bond.
The Texas Department of Public Safety requested seizure of the cash, and the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office requested seizure of the truck. The estimated value of the cash and the truck is $464,870.