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Illegal alien faces cocaine-trafficking charges in Fort Pierce
By DEREK SIMMONSEN
derek.simmonsen@scripps.com
January 28, 2006

FORT PIERCE — An illegal immigrant who was deported to Mexico after being convicted of drug-trafficking charges was found Thursday allegedly with a kilogram of cocaine in a restaurant parking lot.

An informant's tip led detectives to arrest Tomas Salazar, 35, in the parking lot of a Denny's restaurant, in the 2600 block of South U.S. 1, late Thursday morning, according to the Sheriff's Office. He was charged with trafficking cocaine and possession of cocaine with intent to sell.

The kilogram of cocaine was estimated to have a street value of about $100,000. His arrest was the culmination of a month-long investigation, according to the Sheriff's Office.

A search warrant was later served at his home, in the 300 block of North 19th Street, and detectives found about one-fifth of a pound of marijuana, with a street value of about $500. They also found an SKS assault rifle and a shotgun, both unloaded.

Salazar was arrested in 1999 on cocaine-trafficking charges, convicted and sentenced to three years in prison, according to the sheriff's office. He was deported to Mexico in 2000.

Salazar is being held without bond at the St. Lucie County Jail. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was notified of the arrest and is investigating.