By Mark Coddington
mark.coddington@theindependent.com

Jose A. Duran, 40, of San Ysidro, Calif., and Martha L. Miranda-Sandoval, 27, of Glendale, Ariz., were charged on March 4 in U.S. District Court with possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine.

Duran and Miranda-Sandoval were stopped for speeding on Feb. 24 on Highway 281 south of St. Paul.

After finding bundles of money hidden in the car's center console, authorities obtained a search warrant and eventually found five packages of a total of 5 pounds of crystal meth, worth about $125,000, according to the Howard County Sheriff's Department.

According to the federal arrest warrant affidavit, Miranda-Sandoval acknowledged she was in the country illegally, but both she and Duran said she knew nothing about the money or drugs in the car.

But the affidavit said Miranda-Sandoval had in her purse $3,000 in cash and notes with very large dollar amounts written on them.

Duran, who claimed he was a legal resident alien, said he was going to be paid $8,000 for the trip, according to the affidavit. He said he didn't know how much money or drugs were in his vehicle but had seen the meth and money when it was given to him.

No charges were filed against the pair in Howard County Court, Howard County Attorney Bob Sivick said.

The two were initially held in the Hall County Jail until they were moved on Thursday. Neither contested their being jailed until trial.

U.S. District Court Judge Richard Kopf told Duran at his initial court appearance in Lincoln on Thursday that he expected a grand jury to meet this week and likely return an indictment against him.

Bruce Teichman of Grand Island is representing Miranda-Sandoval, while Greg Damman of Seward was appointed to represent Duran.

If convicted, the two face 10 years to life in prison and a fine of up to $4 million.