A Florida man was pulled over for stopping in a crosswalk, and deputies eventually found 4.6 pounds of cocaine in the vehicle, turning the stop into something much worse.
Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputies from the 4th Precinct were patrolling Corkscrew Road when they stopped a vehicle driven by Freutz Lormine. Deputies initially pulled Lormine over for stopping in a crosswalk.
During the stop, a deputy allegedly noticed the smell of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. Eventually, probable cause was established, and deputies searched the vehicle, leading to them finding a blue box that contained the cocaine.
The box was hard on the outside, and a deputy cut it open during the search, allegedly finding two kilograms of cocaine inside, which is around 4.6 pounds.
Started as a Normal Traffic Stop
While Lormine was stopped for a traffic violation, the deputy noticed a scent of marijuana coming from the car while he was talking to Lormine, according to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.
The deputy searched a bag inside the vehicle, where he found the blue box, and after opening it, the cocaine was found inside.
The sheriff’s office Narcotics Unit was called to the scene after the cocaine was found and took over the investigation. The amount seized was large enough to qualify for a trafficking charge against Lormine.
A Serious Charge
Florida law defines knowingly possessing 28 grams or more of cocaine as trafficking. Since deputies allegedly found 2,000 grams of cocaine, the amount falls into the law’s 400-gram-or-more category, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine upon conviction.
The statute states that the mandatory minimum sentence under the trafficking law cannot be suspended, deferred, or withheld and generally bars parole or early release.
The trafficking charge is based on the amount of cocaine Lormine is accused of knowingly possessing. The available information does not allege that he personally sold the cocaine.
Prior Record
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office said Lormine has a criminal history that includes robbery. The agency’s post does not provide additional details about that prior case.
Sheriff Carmine Marceno praised the deputies and Narcotics Unit detectives involved. Marceno said proactive patrols help keep drugs and dealers off Lee County streets.
Lormine’s booking record lists a combined bond of $105,000 for the charges. The available information does not state where Lormine was allegedly taking the cocaine or where he obtained it.
Lormine is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.