Jeweler Accused of Selling Cocaine at Store
December 11, 24
(IDEX Online) - The owner of a US jewelry store has been arrested on suspicion of selling cocaine.
Pedro Martinez, 54, is accused of using the premises of his Three J Jewelers, in Florida, for the sale and trafficking (supplying over an ounce) of the drug.
Officers from the local vice and narcotics unit spent months investigating. When they raided his store they found cocaine and crack cocaine, according to the Hernando County Sheriff's Office.
"It's hard to judge how many people are coming in here legitimately to sell things like their gold jewelry and how many of them are doing it for the drugs and associated with criminal activity," said Hernando County Sheriff Al Nienhuis.
Martinez is charged with trafficking in cocaine, sale of cocaine, possession of a structure with the intent to sell a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, unlawful use of a two-way communication device, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
He is being held on a $275,000 bond for all charges.
Pic courtesy of the Hernando County Jail.