Man Charged With Cocaine Trafficking

A man facing two felony charges stemming from a traffic stop during which a Wyoming Highway Patrol trooper allegedly found marijuana and cocaine entered not guilty pleas Wednesday in Albany County District Court.

Fidel Alexis Casco-Flores, 25, pleaded not guilty to possession of a controlled substance -- specifically, cocaine --and possession with intent deliver. If convicted on both counts, he could face a maximum sentence of 27 years in prison and $40,000 in fines.

Casco-Flores was arrested after a Wyoming Highway Patrol trooper stopped a grey Honda Civic for speeding May 10 on U.S. Highway 287.

Court documents say while conducting the traffic stop, the trooper saw that both of the vehicle's occupants and a dog were out of the car and the trunk was open. The two people and the dog reportedly walked to the borrow ditch as the trooper approached.

The affidavit says the trooper identified the two people and told Casco-Flores to take the dog back to the car while directing Robin Zuniga-Acosta, the other occupant, to follow the trooper.

A K-9 unit reportedly alerted to the grey Honda Civic. A search allegedly turned up marijuana shake on the driver side floor board and center console, a small plastic sandwich bag containing suspected marijuana in the gas cap door and a fist-sized plastic bag containing 109 grams of cocaine.

Troopers also allegedly found seven cell phones and $2,250 in cash inside the Honda Civic.

According to court documents, Zuniga-Acosta provided a Mexican identification card to the trooper. The card reportedly bore the name Carlos Miguel Carrasco. Zuniga-Acosta allegedly said later that the identification card was not his.

Casco-Flores reportedly produced an international drivers license bearing his name. Later, he allegedly said the license was a fake.

Casco-Flores also allegedly said the car belonged to a friend who was no present at the time of the traffic stop. Troopers ran the vehicle registration, revealing that it was in fact registered to a different individual.

According to the affidavit, Casco-Flores and Zuniga-Acosta said in a police interview that they knew there was marijuana in the vehicle.

Casco-Flores is scheduled to stand trial Oct. 13-14. He is being held on $15,000 cash bond.