Late Thursday night, MNPD stopped a vehicle in the course of a narcotics investigation and for a moving traffic violation. Albaro Mendez was driving the vehicle and was very slow to stop. Once the vehicle stopped, he and the passenger, Hector Hererra, ran from officers and refused commands to stop, but were caught after a shot chase.
During a search of the vehicle detectives recovered $89,500.00 in U.S. Currency hidden inside the middle console area of the vehicle. Detectives obtained a narcotics search warrant for the Mendez’s residence on Lyle Ln. During a search of the residence detectives recovered approximately 16 grams of Heroin, 8,246 grams of cocaine, digital scales, kilogram press, a handgun, a rifle, and $127,461 in U.S. Currency.
While preparing to execute the search warrant at the residence detectives observed the Veronica Guerra enter the location. She was observed using a key to enter the location, she stayed for approximately 5 minutes and then left the house with a small tote bag full of money. She was stopped and detained. Under Miranda, Guerra said that her boyfriend, Alvaro Santos, called her and told her he was under arrest. He instructed her to go to the house and pick up the bag of money. Guerra said that she didn’t know anything about the drugs inside the location.
For reference, 8,246 grams of cocaine = 18+ pounds = 8.2 kilos. The price of each kilo is estimated at around $30,000 in Nashville.
Mendez and his girlfriend (Veronica Gomez-Guerra) are charged with:
- CONT SUB, POSS W/INT, HEROIN 15-149G
- CONT SUB, POSS W/INT COCAINE 300G+
- DRUG PARAPHERNALIA, POSSESS
- EVADING ARREST, MISDEMEANOR
- WEAPON – FELON – POSS – FIREARM (DRUG OFFENSE)
- MONEY LAUNDERING
- EVIDENCE TAMPERING [GUERRA ONLY]
Hererra is charged with money laundering & evading arrest.
Initial appearances are set for Monday 03/19/2018 in front of Judge Coleman.
