Crime & Safety

Prosecutor: Man Found With 27 Pounds of Pot

New York man allegedly caught with $189K worth of marijuana during motor vehicle stop.

A New York man was allegedly found with 27 pounds of marijuana—with a street value of $189,000—following a motor vehicle stop Saturday morning on Interstate 78 in Warren Township, the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office said Monday.

Tramain Francis, 27, of Long Island, was charged with first-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute and was lodged at the Somerset County Jail in lieu of $100,000 cash bail.

Kearah Baker, 18, of Newville, Pa., who was one of five people in the vehicle, was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, a disorderly persons offense, and was released on her own recognizance.

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According to a statement released by the prosecutor's office, Officer Jeffrey Sohler conducted a motor vehicle stop of a minivan that was traveling westbound on I-78 Saturday morning at about 7:25 a.m.

Sohler detected a "strong odor of raw marijuana emanating from the vehicle," which was operated by Shean Adman, of Carsile, Pa., the prosecutor's office said.

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Adman voluntarily gave permission for police to search the vehicle, the prosecutor's office said. The search uncovered 27 pounds of marijuana from the area of the third-row seat, the prosecutor's office said. The marijuana had a street value of approximately $189,000, the prosecutor's office said.

All five individuals were transported to the Warren Township Police Headquarters where members of the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office Organized Crimes and Narcotics Task Force responded and assisted with the investigation, the prosecutor's office said.

The investigation revealed that the marijuana allegedly belonged to Francis, the prosecutor's office said. Baker was allegedly found to be in possession of a marijuana smoking pipe, the prosecutor's office said.


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