Ohio troopers seize 235 pounds of pot from truck

ELYRIA -- A man and a woman are facing felony drug charges after Ohio Highway Patrol troopers seized 235 pounds of marijuana, worth approximately $1.2 million following a traffic stop in Lorain County.

The driver, Kimberly M. Benson, 42, and passenger, Daniel M. Essad, 62, both from Reno, Nev., have been charged with second-degree felonies.

Troopers said they pulled over a Chevy pick-up truck with a Nevada registration on I-80, near milepost 133 on January 21 for marked lanes and failure to signal violations.

A Patrol drug-sniffing canine alerted troopers to the vehicle, where a search revealed the 235 pounds of pot.

If convicted, each could face up to 16 years in prison and up to a $30,000 fine.