By Tracie Sullivan, For Iron County Today
What a Utah Highway Patrol trooper initially thought might be a gun tucked into a passenger’s waistband turned out to be a kilogram, or about 2.2 pounds, of suspected fentanyl, authorities say.
The discovery led to the arrests of Desiree Ann Roy, 40, and Jose Mario Yepiz Gonzalez, 36, following a traffic stop late July 17 on northbound Interstate 15 in Iron County.
Both were booked into the Iron County Correctional Facility on first-degree felony charges of trafficking fentanyl, along with misdemeanor charges of possessing a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia.
Roy also faces misdemeanor charges of driving with a measurable controlled substance in her body and traffic infractions for failing to remain in one lane and following too closely.
According to charging documents filed in support of the arrest, a UHP trooper first spotted the black Jeep Wrangler, which had Texas license plates and was identified as a rental vehicle, near mile marker 63.
Another trooper later took over following the vehicle and watched as it traveled back and forth within its lane before drifting onto the white fog line near mile marker 87.
The Jeep then caught up with a slower-moving semitrailer and followed it at a distance of less than two seconds, the affidavit stated.
The trooper activated his emergency lights near mile marker 88. The Jeep continued into the northbound rest area before pulling into a parking space and stopping.
Roy, who was driving, told Gibbs she might be “a little bit sleepy.”
As Roy opened the center console while looking for the rental agreement, the police officer reported seeing a glass pipe commonly used to smoke methamphetamine.
Roy agreed to speak with the trooper in his patrol vehicle but denied there were any pipes inside the Jeep.
Police then spoke with Gonzalez, who was sitting in the passenger seat. Gonzalez allegedly admitted the pipes belonged to him and stepped out of the vehicle.
As Gonzalez stepped out of the Jeep, the trooper noticed a bulge in the front of his waistband that appeared to be the butt of a firearm. When removed, however, the object turned out to be a package of a white powdery substance, court files state.
Both Roy and Gonzalez were arrested.
During a search of the Jeep, troopers also allegedly found approximately an ounce of methamphetamine in Roy’s purse. The pipes reportedly contained a testable amount of suspected methamphetamine.
Investigators later identified the white powder as suspected fentanyl.
Gonzalez also allegedly told narcotics agents the substance was fentanyl, while Roy admitted she knew the purpose of the trip was to take the kilogram of fentanyl to Salt Lake City to sell.
Roy also told officers she would test positive for methamphetamine, the affidavit states.
She initially declined to consent to a blood test but later agreed after being advised that Utah motorists are considered to have consented to chemical testing for alcohol or drugs and can lose their driving privileges for refusing.