A routine traffic stop Tuesday afternoon led to the arrest of a California man on drug charges and money laundering according to Brown County Sheriff’s Officials.
At approximately 1:38 p.m. on October 8th, a Brown County Sheriff’s Deputy stopped a 2006 Hyundai Accent for an obscured license plate in the 5000 block of US Hwy 183 South. According to the report, during the stop, the driver, identified as 27-year-old Martin William Nofziger of Pacifica, California, stated that he was traveling from Austin to California and showed signs of nervousness, causing the deputy to ask for consent to search the vehicle which was denied. A Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper as well as a Comanche County K-9 unit (due to the Brown County K-9 unit being unavailable at the time) was dispatched to the scene and alerted to narcotics being present in the vehicle, the report states.
The officer asked Nofziger (pictured left) if there was anything in the vehicle that he wanted to surrender and according to the deputy’s report, “he hung his head in defeat and advised that there was approximately 5 ounces of marijuana in the vehicle.” The trooper advised the deputy that he had also located a large amount of US currency in the vehicle, the report states. A gym bag located in the front passenger side floor board contained approximately 6.4 ounces of marijuana in heat sealed plastic bags in sealed glass jars, as well as approximately 0.7 grams of pills identified as Adderall, and a marijuana cookie which contained hash oil weighing approximately 20.1 grams, according to the deputy’s report. Also located in the gym bag was a toiletry bag containing 45 $20 bills, a plastic HEB bag which contained 3 rubber banded bundles of US currency, with each bundle totaling approximately $5000 separated into $1000 increments of rubber banded $20 bills; a $1000 bundle of $20 bills; and $388 located in the vehicle and Nofziger’s wallet; which totaled over $17,000 according to the report. The manner in which the bills were bundled was consistent with that of currency used in drug smuggling, stated the report. More empty heat sealed bags, consistent with the bags the marijuana was packaged in, were located in the trunk of the vehicle.
According to BCSO officials, the vehicle does not have a lien and may also be seized as a result of this offense.
Nofizger was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance penalty group 2 equal or greater than 4 grams less than 400 grams, possession of a controlled substance penalty group 2 less than 1 gram, possession of marijuana 6.4 ounces, and money laundering. Nofizer remains held in the Brown County Jail and no bail amount had been set as of Wednesday morning.
