A 20-year-old man arrested by U.S. Border Patrol in Indio for allegedly smuggling an astronomical amount of drugs over the border pleaded not guilty Wednesday to four felony counts related to possession and importing of narcotics.
The suspect, Joshua Lamar Chamberlain, was found with 46.7 pounds of methamphetamine and 18 pounds of fentanyl in his 2006 Hyundai Santa Fe when agents performed a vehicle stop on Interstate 10 at 3:20 p.m. on Friday, June 24, according to a news release by the U.S Customs and Border Protection.
"A Border Patrol K-9 detection team assisted in the vehicle stop and alerted to the vehicle," the release said of the search that occurred near the Golf Center Parkway exit in Indio.
As a result, the border patrol agents discovered a black gym bag carrying a little over 64 pounds of narcotics, the release said. Agents seized 19 packages of methamphetamine, which contained 46.7 pounds of the drug, with an estimated street value of $126,630. They also confiscated seven packages of fentanyl, which totaled 18 pounds and has an estimated street value of $268,297, the release said.
NBC Palm Springs reported on Wednesday that Chamberlain pleaded not guilty to the four felony counts against him. Originally detained for drug smuggling, Chamberlain is facing one charge for importing/selling/distributing controlled substances into the state, two for possessing controlled substances for sale and one for transporting/selling narcotic and controlled substances.
According to KESQ, bail has been set at $1 million for Chamberlain, who was turned over to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department and held at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning.
A felony settlement conference has been scheduled for July 11, NBC Palm Springs said.