State troopers stopped a semi truck near the Love’s truck stop on US 281 in Hidalgo County,Texas, last Monday, and decided to search his vehicle because they spotted something “unusual”…his clothes were too clean.
The stop resulted in the arrest of 51-year-old truck driver Roman M. Sanchez, a resident of Katy, Texas.
According to a four-page affidavit, the officers said his new dry-cleaned clothes were “not consistent with everyday truck drivers.” In addition, unlike most truck drivers, he showed a lack of concern for money. He admitted to staying in a nice hotel, as opposed to sleeping in his truck. He also told officers that he stopped in the area for several days to visit family, even though he had a fully loaded trailer, the affidavit states.
Due to their suspicions, the officers searched his truck with a K-9 and uncovered bundles of cash hidden in secret compartments in the truck. The cash totaled $1.2 million dollars.
After discovering the money, the driver agreed to cooperate with investigators.
According to Valleycentral.com, Sanchez told investigators that the money was proceeds from a narcotics sale, and he was paid to deliver the cash from Chicago to Mexico
.
The affidavit also stated that Sanchez told officers he “had transported on at least five prior occasions bulk currency concealed in the same manner and within the same semi-trailer and was renumerated for transporting said bulk currency with a destination for the country of Mexico.”
Sanchez was charged with intent to conceal proceeds from drug trafficking and is being held without bond.
