Traffic Stop In Brandon Yields Nearly 12 Pounds of Pot

BRANDON, FL -- It may have been April Fool's Day but this was no joking matter.

On April 1, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's District 5 Street Crimes Unit pulled over a white Jaguar at Heather Lakes Boulevard and Lumsden Road in Brandon. Deputies says they could immediately smell marijuana coming from the car. When they conducted a search, they found 11.75 pounds of pot.

In addition, the driver, Matthew Cottle, had 4 grams of Oxycodone, more than $3,000 cash, a 9mm pistol and plastic packaging bags in his car.

Cottle is a 10-time convicted felon. He’s now facing charges of possession of cannabis, possession of a controlled substance and felon in possession of a firearm.