Ammunition, various firearms and drugs found at Cape Coral residence
More than 900 rounds of ammunition and 14 firearms, including an Uzi, were seized from a home Thursday, along with drugs and drug paraphernalia.
Cape Coral police executed a search warrant at 1722 N.W. 18th Terrace at about 7 p.m. During a search of the home, detectives located the ammunition and the firearms, including a mini-14 with a folding stock and laser sights and the 9 mm Uzi, according to officials.
Detectives also seized more than 300 opiate-based prescription pills, four mature marijuana plants, digital scales, plastic bags and $30,000 in cash.
Juan M. Claudio, 63, of 1722 N.W. 18th Terrace, was inside the home at the time of the search. He was taken into custody and charged with 14 counts of possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, firearm or a concealed weapon.
In 1997, Claudio was arrested for the sale of cocaine, which he pleaded no contest to and received probation. Two years later, he was again arrested for the sale of cocaine and again pleaded no contest and received probation.
According to the arrest report, a check of Claudio’s criminal history also revealed that he was arrested in 1971 for attempted murder and possession of a dangerous weapon. The record did not indicate if Claudio was convicted.
On Thursday, he was also charged with possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, possession of marijuana over 20 grams, trafficking in opium or a derivative 4 grams to under 30 kilograms, possess manufacture deliver narcotic equipment and possession and or use of narcotic equipment.
Claudio reportedly told police that some of ammunition and a few of the firearms belonged to him. He reportedly said the marijuana plants were his, and he built the grow room to sell the marijuana to supplement his income.
Claudio stated that the remainder of the firearms, the pills and $30,000 in cash belonged to a friend and that he was holding onto them for that friend, according to the report. He refused to identify his friend, then claimed that the money was his upon learning that police intended to seize the cash.
Officials reported that Thursday’s search warrant was granted after two undercover drug purchases were recently conducted at the residence.
Claudio remained at the Lee County Jail on $126,000 bond Friday.
He has a court appearance scheduled Sept. 12.