WAFB Channel 9, Baton Rouge, LA |Deputies find drugs and assault weapons at hotel

Deputies find drugs and assault weapons at hotel

HAMMOND, LA (WAFB) - Two Florida men were taken into custody late Tuesday night at a hotel in Hammond after drugs and many guns were found in their rooms.

Roberto Sanchez Jr., 32, and Michael Caruso, 24, were arrested shortly before midnight by narcotics agents with the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office. Agents were tipped off there was a strong marijuana odor in the hotel.

Deputies reported finding marijuana and weapons when they searched Sanchez's room and vehicle. A search of Caruso's room turned up marijuana, several rifles and pistols, along with lots of ammunition.

Both were charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance while in possession of firearms.

The guns found in Sanchez's room were a Barrett .50 caliber semi-automatic long-range sniper rifle and a pistol.

"With proper training, this rifle is capable of disabling a vehicle in one shot from over a half-mile away and shooting through concrete walls," said Dawn Panepinto, a spokeswoman for the sheriff's office.

Five AR 15 rifles with tactical optics, five custom combat-style handguns and over 2,000 bullets were recovered from Caruso's room.

Deputies estimated the weapons and ammo seized are worth more than $60,000.

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