A Wildwood man and his Okahumpka cohort were taken into custody on drug charges after being caught with a trafficking amount of meth.
Troopers on patrol stopped 47-year-old Thomas Stephen Kudela and 61-year-old Kenneth Allen Conner on State Road 44 in Deland at 1:30 p.m. Friday, according to the Florida Highway Patrol’s arrest report. They were speeding in a white 2012 Hyundai SUV with a cracked windshield and no headlights, despite the bad weather.
Conner, the driver, began shaking violently while searching for his license, registration, and insurance. Kudela had no identification but became exceedingly helpful. He took out a notebook and pen to jot down his name, as if to expedite the traffic stop, according to the report.
While one trooper returned to his truck to run the pair’s details, another remained at the passenger door. The trooper nearest Kudela spotted him sitting on what seemed to be drug paraphernalia. After apprehending him and Conner, authorities discovered burned foil and scraper tools used to burn and consume narcotics, according to the report.
The troopers then deployed a K-9 to search for drugs and received a positive alert. A search of the vehicle revealed a bag that had once been between Kudela’s feet. It contained more burned foil, a roll of tin foil, a plastic pipe with residue inside, multiple knives, and torches, according to the report.
In the backseat was a cardboard box containing 13 to 16 pounds of methamphetamine. Kudela and Conner were in the back of a patrol cruiser at the time, but in-car camera footage showed Conner claiming they were screwed. They made many statements about being in trouble as the troopers opened the box, according to the report.
Conner instructed Kudela to verify their statement, which was that they believed the shipment contained air conditioner parts. Kudela then kicked his feet back and forth at the cage divider. According to the complaint, a trooper removed him from the vehicle twice to see if he had crushed drugs into the floorboards or attempted to pack them into the toes of his shoes.
After transporting the individuals to Lake County Jail, the trooper searched behind the cage divider and discovered a transparent plastic baggie containing 1.2 grams of fentanyl. It was more than a user amount and appeared to be packaged for sale. Both occupants refused to accept responsibility, despite Conner’s inability to stuff the narcotic while at the back of the unit, according to the report.
Kudela was eventually charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession with intent to sell, trafficking in methamphetamine, transportation of drug paraphernalia, possession of fentanyl, and tampering with evidence. His bond was set at $291, 000.
The Ohio native was also arrested in March 2020 for attempting to depart Walmart wearing stolen shoes, in November 2019 for possessing meth at a Wawa, and in November 2017 for stealing from Walmart on Black Friday.
Conner was charged with possessing methamphetamine, possessing methamphetamine with the intent to sell, trafficking methamphetamine, and transporting drug paraphernalia. Bond for the Maryland resident was set at $271,000.
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