The Dawson County Sheriff's Office arrested two men from Milwaukee, WI following a traffic stop around 8:35am Monday near the I-80 interchange at Cozad. Sheriff Ken Moody says a deputy suspected the vehicle of traveling 93 mph in a 75 mph zone. The deputy observed a strong odor of Marijuana coming from the vehicle which led to a probable cause search. It turned up about 6 pounds of Marijuana in vacuum-sealed bags, that were concealed in two gift wrapped boxes, along with $10,000 in currency seized in a duffel bag. The driver, 29-year-old Donovan Austin and his passenger 38-year-old Gerald Austin were placed under arrest and transported to the Dawson County Jail. Before leaving the scene of the traffic stop, one of the me inquired as to whether Marijuana was legal in Nebraska, according the the deputy's report. Nebraska State Patrol assisted at the scene.
Both men were arraigned in Dawson County Court Tuesday on charges of Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute and Possession of Drug Money. The prosecution has also indicated it's intent to seek forfeiture of the money. Their bonds set at 10% of $50,000 and next hearings set for March 4, 2021 at 11:00am.
