Narcotics training In Lee County hotels results in arrests
Detectives with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics and Highway Interdiction Unit have begun a new initiative in which they are educating hotel and motel owners in Lee County to better recognize possible drug activity in their hotels.
On Monday this training paid off when detectives were contacted by an employee of Homewood Suites at 16450 Corporate Commerce Way, Fort Myers, in reference to suspicious activity in one room at the hotel, officials said Tuesday.
The tenants of the room were identified as David Lavon Massey, 20, and Nadia Rodriguez, 22.
After an extensive investigation, both were placed under arrest for the following charges, officials said:
Possession of a weapon by a convicted felon
Money laundering
Possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute
Possession of marijuana under 20 grams
Possession of drug paraphernalia
Carrying a concealed firearm
Conspiracy to commit a felony
During the course of the investigation, detectives recovered a 9 mm Taurus handgun, two AK-47s, a 9mm MAC-10 semi-automatic handgun, 24 Oxycodone pills, 711 Xanax pills, 65 prescription pill bottles, and $22,775 in currency, officials said in a prepared statement.
These arrests are the direct result of a partnership that has been built with local hotels and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office through this new initiative, the release states, adding Homewood Suites acted quickly in contacting the Sheriff’s Office due to suspicious behavior taking place at their establishment. By making the phone call, they were protecting loyal customers and keeping Lee County safe.
Source: Lee County Sheriff’s Office