On October 22, 2015, at approximately 7:30AM, a Yavapai County Sheriff’s deputy stopped a gray 2015 Nissan Altima for an unsafe lane change violation east on I40 near Crookton Road, Ashfork. The driver was identified as 26-year-old Casiano Angulo Jr. with a passenger, 25-year-old Ignacio Soto Jr.
Both are from the Los Angeles area.
During a discussion about the traffic violation, the deputy detected signs of deception and nervousness from Angulo regarding travel plans and his relationship to passenger Soto. At one point, Angulo admitted there was a small amount of marijuana inside the vehicle along with a small quantity of cocaine hidden in his cell phone case. The deputy spoke with Soto who acknowledged that marijuana would be found in the vehicle and agreed to a consent search.
During the search, deputies located a spare tire in the trunk area that did not match the type of rim and tire for the Nissan model being driven. The tire was also unusually heavy and difficult to remove. When the tire was cut open, deputies found several sealed packages of cocaine and heroin. Later examination revealed 30 pounds of packaged cocaine and 4.5 pounds of packaged heroin. Deputies did find a bindle of cocaine in a cell phone case along with marijuana inside the vehicle as Angulo had earlier indicated.
As a result, both Angulo and Soto were arrested and booked at the Camp Verde Detention Center on charges including Transportation of Narcotics/Drugs for Sales. Angulo and Soto have recently pled guilty to the associated charges and each was sentenced to 5 years in the Department of Corrections.
The street value of this combination load is estimated to exceed well over $600,000.