A California man faces up to life in prison after being arrested with almost eight pounds of methamphetamine in Campbell County.
Rondell Yokenya Baker, 30, of Bakersfield, has been charged in federal court with possessing more than 500 grams of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. He faces 10 years to life in prison and a $10 million fine if found guilty.
Although he was initially charged in Campbell County last month, Baker’s charges were moved to U.S. District Court late last week.
According to court documents, Baker and a woman previously identified in police reports as Amelia Raymonique Adams, 24, were pulled over by a Campbell County sheriff’s deputy on the night of March 2 for speeding. Baker, the driver, was given a warning for the traffic stop and released.
However, the deputy suspected Baker and Adams were involved in criminal activity, specifically drug trafficking. He followed their vehicle for about 2 miles.
Around 30 minutes later on Highway 59, the couple was again stopped for speeding by the same deputy, who was joined by another officer and his K-9.
The dog circled the car and indicated to its handlers it could detect the odor of controlled substances inside.
Adams admitted to possessing a small amount of marijuana, which she turned over to the deputies.
During a resulting search of the vehicle, the deputies found a blue duffle bag, which contained two vacuum-sealed packages of crystal methamphetamine, one sealed package of cocaine and one sealed package of fentanyl pills.
Both Baker and Adams were arrested and charged with felony possession of methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl, along with charges of intent to distribute. Adams was also charged with the misdemeanor of marijuana possession.
The two bags of meth weighed almost eight pounds, the cocaine weighed 2.3 ounces and there were 1,093 fentanyl pills inside of the sealed bag, according to an affidavit filed in support of charges against Baker.
During an interview with police, Baker denied any knowledge of controlled substances being in the vehicle.
Adams told police she and Baker were on their way to North Dakota, but denied knowledge of any controlled substances in the car. However, many of the details to her story did not add up so agents questioned her further.
She also claimed she did not know where in North Dakota they were going, but a check of her cell phone’s map application showed they were headed for Minot, North Dakota.
Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation agent Louey Williams told Cowboy State Daily last month the street value of the drugs seized would be about $50,000 per pound of methamphetamine, totaling $400,000, while the fentanyl pills would be worth about $27,000.
