Class X Drug Charges Filed in Altamont Arrest

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Published on March 19 2019 10:03 am
Last Updated on March 20 2019 6:20 am
Written by Greg Sapp

Class X felony charges have been lodged in the aftermath of an arrest for drug trafficking outside Altamont over the weekend.

 

Altamont police arrested 24-year-old Carlos Chinchilla of San Diego, California and 53-year-old Rolando Diaz Taracena of Valley Center, California at approximately 3:20am Friday on I-70, four miles east of the Altamont interchange. Altamont Police Chief Alan Heiens said his officers made a stop of a vehicle for a traffic violation.

A search of the vehicle turned up three bricks of cocaine weighing 2,346 grams. The drugs have an estimated street value of $95,000. Chinchilla and Diaz Taracena were taken into custody. Bond for each has been set at $750,000.

Chinchilla and Diaz Taracena have been formally charged with Class X felony counts of controlled substance trafficking and manufacture or delivery of heroin. Chinchilla is next due in court on March 26, while Diaz Taracena is due in court on March 21.

Chief Heiens thanked his officers involved in the arrests and thanked Effingham City Police and the Effingham County Sheriff's Department for their assistance.