Couple arrested as part of an ongoing drug investigation

A Big Coppitt Key couple was arrested Tuesday as part of an ongoing drug investigation by the Sheriff’s Office Monroe County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task force (HIDTA – Monroe).

As a result of the ongoing investigation into drug sales, a search warrant was served at 39 1^st Street on Big Coppitt Key at 8:30 a.m. Inside the home investigators found 37 year old Marisa Estopinan and 25 year old Steven Leto, who live there. A search of the home turned up cocaine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia and two handguns – a Glock 19 which was loaded with 15 rounds of ammunition and a Kahr CW380 that was not loaded.

A large amount of cash - $166,400 - was also located, hidden in a vacuum seal bag in a laundry basket.

Estopinan took responsibility for the cocaine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia found in a room where she was residing. She was charged with possessing those illegal substances and with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Leto was charged with possession of marijuana and paraphernalia. The cash was seized by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as part of the ongoing criminal investigation.

Participating on the service of the search warrant were investigators from Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations, Border Patrol, the DEA and the Sheriff’s Office.