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Suspects face 50 years after Martin County drug bust and high-speed chase

Suspects face 50 years after Martin County drug bust and high-speed chase

A routine traffic stop in Martin County turned into a chase in which officers discovered fentanyl, methamphetamine, MDMA, cocaine and a stash of stolen credit cards, leading to the arrest of three people in their twenties.

The Martin County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) said deputies attempted a traffic stop Saturday evening on Monterey Road near the sheriff’s office on 28-year-old Hollywood resident Juber Ochoa, causing him to speed up in an attempt to get back onto the interstate instead of stopping. motorway.

Deputies said they decided to end the pursuit for safety reasons, but Ochoa continued driving through Palm City, still trying to escape.

MCSO made a second attempt to stop him, this time using several patrol vehicles and tire deflation devices placed on the road, the report states.

Despite having deflated tires and struggling to control his shaky vehicle, MCSO said Ochoa continued to run. Officers then used a pursuit maneuver to move his vehicle off the road and into an open field.

Ochoa and his passenger, 29-year-old Charles Cocuzza, allegedly attempted to flee on foot, leaving Nicolette Giordano, 23, who remained in the car.

Read also: Two pounds of suspected cocaine washed up on Florida Keys resort beach

A short manhunt ensued and Ochoa was quickly located, according to MCSO. Assistance from the K-9 unit, specifically K-9 Loki, helped officers find Cocuzza hiding in a ditch nearby.

Authorities found a significant amount of illegal drugs in the vehicle, including fentanyl, methamphetamine, MDMA and cocaine, as well as a cache of stolen credit cards.

All three – Ochoa, Cocuzza and Giordano – were charged with several counts of drug trafficking. Their bail amounts are set at $1,635,000 for Ochoa, $1,830,000 for Cocuzza and $1,435,250 for Giordano.

The ongoing investigation found that the trafficking charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence that could see them each spend up to 50 years in prison.

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