Man caught with 22 lbs of pot

Kenneth Apodaca

Copyright © 2008
Gallup Independent
By Jim Tiffin
Cibola County Bureau

GRANTS — A Grants man who was driving a car at the wrong time and in the wrong place is now in Cibola County Detention Center on a $10,000 cash-only bond in connection with a major drug charge.

Kenneth Apodaca, 42, of 1701 Cordova Court, is charged in connection with one fourth-degree felony count of distribution of a controlled substance, marijuana.

“We think he is someone who supplies many of the smaller dealers in our area,” Grants Police Detective Sgt. John Castaneda said. Apodaca was found to be in possession of 22 pounds of marijuana and slightly more than $33,000 in cash, he said.

Apodaca was driving a car about 11 a.m., Thursday and was observed by a Grants Police officer who knew Apodaca’s license was suspended and was not supposed to be driving, Castaneda said.

The officer conducted a traffic stop and began interviewing Apodaca.

“While interviewing Mr. Apodaca, the officer noticed a strong smell of marijuana coming from the car,” Castaneda said.

“During the interview process the officer asked if he could search the car Apodaca was driving.

“The officer got into the trunk and found a large black bag. He pulled it into the back seat where the seat pulls forward for access into the trunk.”

Castaneda said the officer found 18 bricks of marijuana wrapped in black plastic wrapping inside the black bag. Inside a small red bag, which was also inside the large black bag, the cash was found.

About two weeks ago, George Romero, 25, of 1901 Ann St., (Independent, Aug. 16) was arrested with two pounds of marijuana, according to police.

At that time Castaneda called Romero a major drug dealer in the area. He termed Apodaca an even more major drug dealer because of the amount of marijuana and cash found.

“I want the public to know that Grants Police are going to do anything we can to get the drugs out of our city,” Castaneda said.

“We are working closely with the district attorney’s office and surrounding law enforcement agencies to make that happen.

“Our concerns are for our kids, which are our future and we want to make this a better place to live.”

Apodaca was previously arrested in 2006 in connection with possession of marijuana but the amount was no where near what police found this time, Castaneda said.

Apodaca has a preliminary hearing in Cibola County Magistrate Court on Sept. 9.

He currently remain in custody in the detention center on a $10,000 cash only bond, Lt. Adriana Jaramillo said. Cash only means just that, Apodaca must come up with $10,000 cash, not the 10 percent or $1,000 that a cash surety bond would allow, in order to be released on bond.

If prosecuted and convicted of the charge, Apodaca could serve up to a maximum of 18 months in state prison, be fined up to a maximum of $5,000, or both.

To contact reporter Jim Tiffin call (505) 285-4560 or e-mail: jtiffin.independent@yahoo.com.