A traffic stop in Kosciusko County that resulted in Indiana State Police troopers locating a large amount of U.S. currency led to a search warrant being served at a Warsaw residence.
According to an ISP news release, at approximately 4:34 p.m. a trooper with the ISP Bremen Post All Crimes Policing Team (ACP) stopped a white 2017 Dodge Ram for moving violations as it travelled north on Ind. 15 near CR 1350N in Kosciusko County. During the traffic stop, it was discovered the driver of the Dodge, Luis Lara-Macias, 35, Warsaw, was in possession of more than $65,000 in U.S. currency.
Troopers continued the investigation, the release states, and served a search warrant at Lara-Macias’ residence in the 1700 block of East CR 300N, Warsaw, just after midnight with the assistance of officers from Kosciusko County NET 43. As a result of this search warrant, troopers located a rifle, two handguns, approximately 3 ounces of suspected cocaine, a digital scale, fraudulent identification cards, an additional $3,600 in U.S. currency, as well as other paraphernalia associated with drug dealing.
Lara-Macias was transported to the Kosciusko County Jail on a preliminary charge of money laundering, a level 4 felony. He was booked into the jail at 11:10 p.m. Tuesday.
At the conclusion of this investigation all reports will be turned over to the Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office for review.
According to booking information on Lara-Macias from the Kosciusko County Jail, which lists his address as 235 N. Jefferson St., Silver Lake, his total preliminary bond amount is $25,250. He faces two charges of dealing in a controlled substance, dealing cocaine or narcotic drug, possession of cocaine or a narcotic drug, possession of a legend drug or precursor, neglect of a dependant/child violations, money laundering and maintaining a common nuisance - drug paraphernalia/controlled substance.