FLORIDA — A 65-year-old man is facing felony drug trafficking charges after police said they discovered more than 400 grams of cocaine inside his Sarasota home last week.
According to an affidavit from Sarasota County, officers with the Sarasota Police Department and its SWAT team executed a search warrant on Jan. 16 at the home of Lazaro Armando Rodriguez Gomez. Authorities said Rodriguez Gomez, who holds Mexican citizenship, was the target of a drug investigation that began earlier in the month.
Police said the investigation was launched after receiving a tip through Crime Stoppers. A separate affidavit detailed an undercover operation in which officers were able to confirm Rodriguez Gomez was allegedly selling cocaine from his residence.
During the search, officers reported finding approximately 476 grams of cocaine, including both rock and powder forms, along with more than $6,000 in cash. Rodriguez Gomez was taken into custody and charged with felony cocaine trafficking and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.
Court records show that on Jan. 21, Rodriguez Gomez pleaded not guilty to both charges and requested a trial by jury. The case remains pending.
