Three accused of drug trafficking
A traffic stop by Lee County deputies and a subsequent police investigation lead to the discovery of more than 1 kilogram of cocaine and tens of thousands of dollars in cash, as well as the arrests of three people on drug trafficking charges, officials said Thursday.
Kristy Pastore, 27, James Derisma, 33, and Anthony Lane, 21, have each been charged with trafficking cocaine as a result of an investigation by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit.
According to sheriff’s officials, Pastore and Derisma were pulled over in North Fort Myers because their vehicle did not have working tail lights July 29. Deputies searched the vehicle and found more than 1 kilogram of cocaine, valued at approximately $30,000.
On Aug. 7 during a related investigation, detectives reportedly discovered Derisma had been using Acorn Storage, located at 337 Pine Island Road, to store cash and drugs. Detectives found 1 1/2 kilograms of cocaine and about $33,000 in cash during a search of the unit and Derisma’s car.
Derisma was arrested and placed into federal custody.
Investigators were later conducting surveillance when they witnessed Pastore and Lane transporting about one-quarter kilogram of crack cocaine from Derisma’s North Fort Myers home.
Pastore and Derisma have been federally indicted for trafficking cocaine, while Lane has been charged by the state with trafficking less than 150 kilograms of cocaine.