Woman Pleads Not Guilty to Drug Charges in Laramie

An Ohio woman arrested earlier this year after a traffic stop on Interstate 80 pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Albany County District Court to two felony charges of marijuana possession.

Nuvia Gricelda Carrillo, 26, pleaded not guilty to one count of possession of a controlled substance and one count of possession with intent to deliver. If convicted on both charges, she could face a sentence of 15 years in prison and $20,000 in fines.

Judge Jeffrey Donnell scheduled Carrillo's trial for Aug. 15-16. Carrillo lives in Columbus, Ohio, where she remains free on bond.

Court documents say a Wyoming Highway Patrol trooper stopped a white Jeep Patriot for speeding in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 80 at milepost 298 on Feb. 22. Carrillo and Michael T. Heater were the only people inside the Jeep, according to the trooper's affidavit.

The affidavit goes on to say the trooper smelled marijuana and became suspicious of criminal activity. Carrillo allegedly told the trooper there was nothing illegal in the car and did not consent to a search of the vehicle. The trooper deployed his K-9, and the dog reportedly alerted to the rear fender well on the passenger side.

According to court documents, a search of the vehicle turned up four packages of marijuana, weighing roughly 112 pounds in total, hidden in luggage and the spare tire compartment. The affidavit says the trooper also found four debit cards and four cell phones in the vehicle.

Heater is scheduled to appear in court May 17.