$10,000 IN CASH SEIZED NEAR DUNN

Officers with the Sampson County Sheriff's Office's Highway
Enforcement Awareness Team seized $10,000 in cash during a routine
vehicle stop on N.C. 55 in the northern part of the county on Thursday.

Sampson County Sheriff's authorities seized $10,000 in cash during a
routine traffic stop Thursday, conducted near the Sampson/Johnston
County line. The man was pulled over for an equipment violation by
officers with the Sheriff's Highway Enforcement Awareness Team and
the officers discovered the money.

According to reports, the HEAT officers seized the money during a
stop on N.C. 55 around 1:30 p.m. Thursday. Cpls. Donald Carter and
Tim Bass conducted the stop on a 1993 GMC Suburban being driven by
Jose Gueadalupe Renteria.

Sheriff's Sgt. Robert Stroud, who heads up the HEAT unit, said that
while Renteria was being interviewed, the $10,000 in cash was
discovered. Stroud declined to say where in the vehicle the money was
located or speculate as to why Renteria had that much money in his possession.

According to information from the Sheriff's Office, the cash was
seized due to the amount and federal drug laws regarding money
without receipts.

"Being that he had that much money on him, he's going to have to
prove to the federal government as to where that money came from,"
said Stroud. "Everyone has their ideas as to what we think the
money's from," he said, adding, "We can't speculate."

Renteria was given a written warning for equipment violations and
released at the scene.