A routine traffic stop in Martin County led to a high-speed pursuit and the discovery of a large drug operation, resulting in the arrest of three individuals in their twenties. Juiber Ochoa, 28, Charles Cocuzza, 29, and Nicollette Giordano, 23, are facing multiple counts of drug trafficking after deputies found fentanyl, methamphetamine, MDMA, cocaine, and a stash of stolen credit cards during a vehicle search.
The incident began on Saturday night when Martin County deputies attempted to stop Ochoa’s vehicle on Monterey Road near the Sheriff’s Office. Instead of complying, Ochoa fled, leading deputies on a chase through Palm City. The pursuit ended after MCSO deployed tire deflation devices and used a pursuit intervention maneuver, forcing Ochoa’s vehicle off the road and into an open field.
Ochoa and Cocuzza attempted to flee on foot, leaving Giordano behind in the vehicle. Authorities quickly apprehended Ochoa after a brief manhunt, with the assistance of K-9 Loki helping officers locate Cocuzza hiding in a ditch nearby.
The vehicle contained 720 doses of fentanyl, 8,000 doses of methamphetamine, MDMA, cocaine, and several stolen credit cards. Sheriff William Snyder indicated that the drugs were likely intended for distribution in the area, potentially causing thousands of overdoses. Authorities believe the drugs were either produced in a lab or smuggled across the border.
Ochoa, Cocuzza, and Giordano were charged with multiple drug trafficking offenses. Their bond amounts are set at $1,635,000 for Ochoa, $1,830,000 for Cocuzza, and $1,435,250 for Giordano. Cocuzza’s extensive criminal record includes 11 prior felony convictions. If convicted, each faces up to 50 years in prison due to the mandatory minimum sentences tied to the trafficking charges.
