UHP traffic stop leads to arrests for meth, street valued at $200,000

CEDAR CITY— Utah Highway Patrol discovered 9 pounds of methamphetamine upon investigation of a vehicle driven by an Arizona woman Wednesday evening near mile marker 45, between New Harmony and Kanarraville, on Interstate 15.

While patrolling the area near mile marker 45 on I-15 a white passenger car slowed and upon applying the brakes, the third brake light in the back window was observed as not functioning and the rear view mirror had a number of things hanging from it such that the driver’s view through the windshield was obstructed, according to UHP’s probable cause statement in support of the arrest.

Shauna Ray, 28, Tucson, Arizona, photo posted Oct. 16, 2014 | Photo courtesy of Iron County Sheriff's Office, St. George News
Shauna Ray, 28, Tucson, Arizona, photo posted Oct. 16, 2014 | Photo courtesy of Iron County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News

“Upon making contact with the occupants of the vehicle, I found that the driver was abnormally nervous, and was shaking,” the trooper wrote in the statement. “I further observed she would not maintain eye contact, and would avoid looking at me while we were talking.”

The driver, Shauna Ray, 28, out of Tuscon, Arizona, had a suspended Arizona driver’s license. Through further conversation with Ray and passenger, Aracelie Ausuzena Quintero-Rienhardt, 22, of Tucson, Arizona, discrepancies in their travel plans and relationships escalated the trooper’s suspicion of criminal activity, according to the statement.

Consent for searching the vehicle was given and resulted in the finding of checks, credit cards, social security cards and state issued IDs for individuals not present in the vehicle. Drug paraphernalia was also found.

Aracelie Ausuzena Quintero-Rienhardt, 22, of Tucson, Arizona, photo posted Oct. 16, 2014 | Photo courtesy of Iron County Sheriff's Office, St. George News
Aracelie Ausuzena Quintero-Rienhardt, 22, of Tucson, Arizona, photo posted Oct. 16, 2014 | Photo courtesy of Iron County Sheriff’s Office, St. George News

Quintero-Reinhardt and Ray were arrested and transported to the UHP section office along with the vehicle for further investigation.

A K-9 was deployed and further search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of approximately 9 pounds of methamphetamine which estimates a street value of $200,000, according to the statement, and additional drug paraphernalia and heroin were found.

Quintero-Reinhardt and Ray were booked into the Iron County Correctional Facility. They were each charged with a second-degree felony for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, third-degree felony for possession of methamphetamine, third-degree felony for possession of heroin, class B misdemeanor for possession of drug paraphernalia, third-degree felony for unlawful possession of card, and five third-degree felonies for identity fraud.

In addition to those charges, Ray was charged with a class C misdemeanor for driving on a suspended driver’s license.

According to current bookings information Ray and Quintero-Reinhardt’s bail requirements for release are set at $20,000 cash only.

Ray and Quintero-Reinhardt had initial court appearances Friday and their preliminary hearing is set for Oct. 29.

Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.

This is a developing story.

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5 Comments

  • ladybugavenger October 18, 2014 at 6:22 pm

    That’s a women???

  • Tinker Toys October 18, 2014 at 7:03 pm

    Pretty petty reasons for the stop, typical for UHP.

  • DAVE RABBITT October 18, 2014 at 7:31 pm

    Did a Google search and a website called crystalmethaddiction(dot)org state that:
    “The price of Crystal Meth varies from state to state and city to city – – On average, the price of Crystal Meth for 1 gram is $80”

    9 pounds equates to 4082.33 grams and $80 x 4082.33 = $326,586.
    (At 200,000, it worked out to only $48.99 a gram)

    Wonder if that figure is off, because that’s a substantial difference?
    Anyway – Great news to read and a big thanks to the UHP, for their outstanding work!

    • Coprqwn October 18, 2014 at 9:25 pm

      It’s worth more in smaller amounts. If you were to buy 9 pounds you would pay $200,000. You could then sell it by the gram to make that extra $125K or have to police take it and end up with three hots and a cot!

  • THE TRUTH October 19, 2014 at 5:29 pm

    The must stop a McDonald’s the Burger King suck a few slurpies after the tweek. I haven’t seen heads that big sense milking the jersey.

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