A man who claimed to be a former law enforcement officer could not explain to federal agents why he would take a box from an unknown man selling fruit at a Home Depot after authorities found nearly 50 pounds of cocaine inside that box.
A criminal complaint details a shaky story from Juan Posas Jr., a United States citizen born in 1972, who asserted to special agents after his arrest that he was a former U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer.
Posas was charged with possession with the intent to distribute approximately 48.5 pounds of cocaine.
Federal prosecutors also charged Alex Soria Soria, a Mexican citizen born in 1998, in the case. Soria claimed after his arrest that he was just trying to buy shoes from a Facebook MarketPlace seller.
The thwarted smuggling attempt occurred Monday after Homeland Security Investigations agents received information about a multi-pound drug exchange about to take place in Weslaco, which prompted authorities to set up surveillance at a Home Depot where they saw a white Ford F-150 enter and parallel park next to a red Ford Ranger, according to a criminal complaint.
The agents watched as Soria exited the red Ford Ranger and placed a box inside the white Ford F-150.
Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office deputies later pulled the white Ford F-150 over for a traffic violation, which wasn’t specified in the complaint.
Posas was driving that truck and a drug sniffing dog alerted to the presence of narcotics. A deputy who opened the box found 20 bricks of cocaine.
Meanwhile, another deputy pulled over the red Ford Ranger for an unspecified traffic violation and both men were taken into custody.
During an interview, Posas said he drove from Raymondville to a Lowes in Weslaco to buy bricks for a home project, but couldn’t find them so he went to Home Depot, according to the complaint.
“Posas stated that he went into the Home Depot store and did not find what he was looking for either,” the complaint said. “Agents conducting surveillance did not see Posas even enter the Home Depot.”
Posas claimed that as he left the parking lot, Soria waved him down and asked whether he wanted to buy some fruits, to which Posas agreed.
“Following this exchange, Posas stated Soria retrieved the box from his own vehicle, opened the rear passenger side door of Posas’ vehicle and placed the box on the seat,” the complaint said. “Posas stated that he did not pay for the fruits.”
During the interview, Posas claimed he was a former CBP officer.
“Agents asked whether Posas, given his law enforcement background and experience, found it suspicious to allow an unknown subject at a Home Depot parking lot to place a box of what he believed to be fruit inside of his vehicle; Posas stated that he did not find it suspicious. Posas also stated that he never looked in the box,” the complaint said.
Soria, meanwhile, claimed he drove from McAllen to Weslaco to buy shoes from a Facebook MarketPlace seller at a gas station, but the seller did not show up, according to the complaint.
“Soria stated that as he was leaving the gas station, the seller messaged him and asked him to meet at Home Depot,” the complaint said. “Soria stated he drove to the Home Depot parking lot, waited but did not meet with the seller, after which Soria left the area and was later stopped by police.”
When shown video footage of him placing the box in Posas’ truck, Soria claimed he did not remember that happening.
Both men made first appearances Wednesday in McAllen federal court in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Juan F. Alanis, who ordered them both temporarily held without bond pending future detention and probable cause hearings.
