Cheyenne Traffic Stop Leads to 65 Pounds of Marijuana, 2 Arrests

Two men are facing felony drug charges following a traffic stop in Cheyenne.

According to arrest records, 59-year-old Brooklyn, New York resident Earnest J. Johnnie was headed east on Interstate 80 around 3:30 yesterday afternoon, Oct. 16, when Laramie County Sheriff's Deputy Gebauer stopped him near the Interstate 25 interchange for two lane use violations.

Gebauer says Johnnie was driving a rental car and said that he was driving home.

Wyoming Highway Patrol Trooper Dellos and his K-9 partner, Reno, were called to the scene and Reno alerted on the car.

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The car was subsequently searched, and approximately 65 pounds of suspected marijuana was found in the trunk.

Johnnie's passenger, 48-year-old Philadelphia, Pennsylvania resident Gary E. Young, reportedly told Gebauer that he rented the car and Johnnie did the driving.

Gebauer says from the sheer amount of marijuana and the large amount of cash, it was clear the marijuana was destined for delivery.

Johnnie and Young were arrested and booked into the Laramie County Detention Center for possession of marijuana, conspiracy-drug charges, and sale/delivery of marijuana, all felonies.

As of late Tuesday morning, the two had yet to be formally charged.