Two men charged with cocaine trafficking

PUNTA GORDA, Fla.- Two Homestead men are charged with trafficking in cocaine after they located more than half a pound of the substance hidden inside their vehicle.

Late Wednesday morning, deputies noticed a gold GMC Sierra travelling north on I-75 approaching the Jones Loop Road exit.  The deputies could see that the passenger was not wearing a seat belt and pulled the vehicle over.

Deputies found that the vehicle’s driver, 39-year-old Charles Pearson, had a suspended driver’s license. The passenger who was not wearing a seat belt, 44-year-old Darnell Jackson, was also the vehicle’s owner.

Authorities say both Pearson and Jackson appeared to be very nervous, but gave the deputies permission to search the truck.  Deputies found that there was something duck taped inside the engine compartment, in the cavity of the wheel well.  When they removed the duck taped object, they found 248 grams, or more than half a pound, of a white powdery substance inside a plastic baggie.  The substance tested positive for cocaine.

Both Pearson and Jackson were charged with trafficking and possession of cocaine. Jackson was given a warning citation for not wearing his seat belt. Pearson is being held on a $51,000 bond, while Jackson’s bond is $48,000.