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SALT LAKE CITY — A traffic stop in Summit County for investigation of illegally tinted windows recently has led to federal drug charges being filed.
Ruth Mery Argueta, 31, was indicted in federal court in February with possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute and possession of heroin with intent to distribute.
According to charging documents, Argueta was pulled over on I-80 near Coalville on Feb. 9 for an equipment violation on her pickup truck.
A police booking affidavit further states that the arresting Utah Highway Patrol trooper "could not see the driver of the vehicle as it passed my location" because the tint on the windows was too dark.
After the trooper pulled the pickup over, he could smell burnt marijuana in the vehicle, the affidavit said. Argueta, who had an Oregon driver's license, allegedly told the trooper there was marijuana in the pickup, and a search of her vehicle was conducted.
"During the subsequent search, troopers located approximately 19 pounds of fake blue M30 pills purported to contain fentanyl, over 1 kilogram of heroin, a loaded firearm and approximately 1 ounce of raw marijuana, rolling papers, over $4,000 in U.S. currency," charging documents state.
Argueta was arrested and later charged in federal court. An arraignment is scheduled in federal court for Thursday.
