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Trio Arrested On Coke Charges
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Published: July 12, 2008
Joe Luis Castanada
Francisco Pecina
Maria Ramones
Francisco Pecina was on the phone last night with Joe Luis Castanada, according to police, talking about a cocaine deal involving a couple hundred grams.
Around 10 p.m., the two men agreed to meet at Pecina's home at 12020 E. Bay Rd. in Gibsonton, where police say Castanada would pick up the drugs.
But before the transaction could be made, Tampa Police were listening in to the phone call and set up surveillance, according to affidavits, which describe what happened next.
Shortly after their phone conversation, Castanada pulled up to Pecina's house in a red 2007 Nissan Maxima. He got out of the car, went into the house and, after about a minute, came out again. He got back into the Maxima and left.
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office deputies – who were working with Tampa Police – followed as Castanada drove north on Hwy 301. After a few minutes, deputy Don Hess noticed an "unknown white light source shining rearward from beneath" the Maxima.
Hess pulled over Castanada.
The 23-year-old Wimauma resident had a suspended license and was classified as a habitual traffic offender, so Hess arrested him. When Hess searched the Maxima, he found 268 grams of powdered cocaine.
Castanada, listed in jail records as a mason for Coastal Construction, was charged with trafficking in cocaine, conspiracy to traffic in cocaine, both felonies and driving with a suspended license/habitual traffic offender, a misdemeanor.
After Castanada's arrest, police intercepted another call from Pecina.
It was to his wife, Maria Cecilia Ramones, 35, who is listed in jail records as a teacher at It's Kids Time in Riverview.
Pecina, 34, asked his wife to remove cocaine from their house.
A few minutes later, investigators saw Ramones leave the house in a 1999 Chevrolet Malibu. She was followed to the parking lot of a nearby CVS at 301 and Gibsonton Drive and detained.
A police drug dog arrived on the scene, walked around the outside of the Malibu and alerted on the right rear quarter panel, near the trunk. When the trunk was searched, investigators found a blue pillow case containing one large brick of powdered cocaine and five additional bags of cocaine, containing a combined weight of 660 grams.
After being read her Miranda rights, Ramones said she did not know that the cocaine was in the car.
She was arrested and charged with trafficking in cocaine and conspiracy to traffic in cocaine.
Pecina was also arrested and charged with trafficking in cocaine and conspiracy to traffic in cocaine.
After he was read his Miranda rights, Pecina said he sold Castanada a quarter kilo of cocaine for $6,200 and that he bought a kilo earlier that day for $22,000 on consignment.
Pecina, Ramones and Castanada are being held at the Orient Road Jail with no bond set.
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Reader Comments
Posted by ( alafia1 ) on July 12, 2008 at 10:36 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I guess it was good going for a while, but eventually they will get caught
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Posted by ( srqbuckeye ) on July 12, 2008 at 10:42 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Surprise Surprise...MEXICANS
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Posted by ( Bongomaniak ) on July 12, 2008 at 10:59 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
srqbuckeye it has nothing to do with the race; they could've been white or black or asian...etc. The fact is that this are just people making the wrong choices in life to make a quick buck. Specially her been a school teacher.That is really a shame!!
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Posted by ( tallguy007 ) on July 12, 2008 at 10:59 a.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by ( jnabna ) on July 12, 2008 at 11:08 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
consignment? somebody is in big trouble when they get out.
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Posted by ( MrShrek ) on July 12, 2008 at 11:13 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
LMAO....Reread the article folks. Especially this line: "An unknown white light source shining rearward from beneath" Uh, can you say that perhaps, somehow, some way a tag light found itself unplugged ( don't ya just hate when that happens) And that , Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury, gave the Officer probable cause to initiate the traffic stop that resulted in his arrest and conviction....Yeppers, LMFAO..
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Posted by ( mexicant ) on July 12, 2008 at 11:17 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
They aren't Mexicans, you idiot( srqbuckeye ). They look like Puerto Ricans- regardless they deserve what they get.
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Posted by ( Bongomaniak ) on July 12, 2008 at 11:33 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Mexicant; only one thing i agree with your comment is that regardless they get what they deserve but the truth of the matter is that they look from Mexico or South America. I have yet to meet a Castaneda from Puerto Rico. All the Castaneda i know are from Zacatecas, Mexico.(including my stepson) Sorry to dissapoint you.
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Posted by ( mlamarca ) on July 12, 2008 at 11:55 a.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by ( mw6344 ) on July 12, 2008 at 12:03 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Great Job to the men in blue and green
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Posted by ( buzzkill ) on July 12, 2008 at 12:20 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Real nice. Thanks to the police doing their job they have now ruined my Saturday night since I had planned on scoring an 8 ball from Joe for the evenings festivities. Guess I will just have to sit home and watch re-runs on TV-Land. Thanks Tanpa PD.
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Posted by ( Dyepes ) on July 12, 2008 at 12:52 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
This is a very good bust. The initial deal means he is a supplier for the street pushers, and then knocing off Pecina, who appears to be a main distributor means they may have the opportunity to track down the bigger criminals who supply him.
Perfect. After they are all done they should be shot.
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Posted by ( RRR ) on July 12, 2008 at 1:07 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Great job for the police. The case goes to the D.A.,then judge/jury. Guess they better plea to 25 years without parole, unless they ask me to be on the jury. We as citizens of Florida are done playin. Hope they seize the house,car,bank acct, and the families pets to finance more court ordered surveillence.
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Posted by ( Valman ) on July 12, 2008 at 1:55 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Castanada has 7 arrests. The revolving door of (lack of) justice spins faster and faster. And it may just be a poor picture, but the female has a meth user complexion.
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Posted by ( MACHOMAN ) on July 12, 2008 at 2:28 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
NO COKE FOR YOU..They guys that fronted him the dope are still going to want their money,he should not get out of jail. Tomarrow headline Dope dealer found dead..
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Posted by ( RichB ) on July 12, 2008 at 3:33 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
MACHOMAN .....And that would be a bad thing? I say deliver them all to the supplier's front door; then arrest the supplier after the community service is completed.
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Posted by ( RichB ) on July 12, 2008 at 3:39 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
In all reality they will plea and give up the supplier because he is the bigger fish to fry. Seeing that he can part with $22,000 in product and wait for payment he is of more interest to the cops.
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Posted by ( voxpopuli ) on July 12, 2008 at 5:42 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
that's nice. she's a teacher. usually that means HE is a fireman.
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Posted by ( tallguy007 ) on July 12, 2008 at 8:26 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
GEE TBO REMOVED HUH!!!!
I SAID METH!!!!
LOOKING!!!!
GUSSE WHOM?!!!!
THIS IS NOTHING NEW FOR THESE PEOPLE & TBO!!!!
MAYBE IF THE USA STARTED,
THE HITLER THING WE WOULD NOT HAVE
THIS PROBLEM?!!!!
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