CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Three people are facing charges after Charlotte-Mecklenburg police found $500,000 in cash, along with guns and drugs, while searching a home in Steele Creek.
Police said they investigated a house on Hatton Cross Lane after receiving anonymous complaints from neighbors and arrested 30-year-old Anthony Joseph Espinal, 24-year-old Jesus Manuel Rosario and 32-year-old Socrates Jhoneril Gomez.
(Anthony Espinal, Jesus Rosario, Socrates Gomez)
In addition to the cash, officials said 2.6 kilograms of cocaine, two pounds of marijuana, two guns, a money counter and other drugs were found inside the house.
Authorities said the cocaine was packaged as bricks and that much of the cash was wrapped in tape and dunked in grease before being stored in metal containers.
Investigators told Channel 9 that the narcotics are worth about $100,000 and that they believe the bust curbed violent crime in the area.
"To say that this reduced the violent crime aspect pretty much all across the area, I think would be very true," Charlotte-Mecklenburg police Sgt. Danny Meyers.
Espinal, Rosario and Gomez were each charged with conspiracy to traffic in cocaine greater than 400 grams, felony possession of cocaine, trafficking in opium/heroin/opiates, possession with intent to sell/distribute marijuana, felony possession of marijuana, maintaining a dwelling, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia not for marijuana.
“Very disappointing,” said Jim Baber, who lives three houses down.
He saw the police cars outside the home Friday when officers searched it.
“I couldn't imagine what was going on up there,” Baber said.
All three suspects received a $1,552,000 bond.
Police said they're looking for a third suspect, 21-year-old Christian Nunez, in connection with the drugs, guns and cash uncovered during the bust.
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