OSP traffic stop yields $165,000 worth of illegal substances Monday morning

Photo provided by Ohio State Highway Patrol.

By Jessica Johnston, Assistant News Director

Early Monday morning, troopers with Ohio State Highway Patrol stopped a U-Haul truck along I-70 that was carrying 7,040 liquid ounces of CBD oil.

OSP has filed felony charges on two men from Rhode Island following the stop. Driver, Joshua Sellers of Providence and his passenger Richard Defedele of North Kingston were both charged with possession of a schedule one substance, a felony of the first degree, according to a media release.

At 12:04 p.m., on Feb. 25, troopers stopped the vehicle, which had an Arizona registration, for a marked-lanes traffic violation.

The release states that the troopers saw “criminal indicators” and a drug-sniffing K-9 hit on the U-Haul giving the troopers probable cause to search the vehicle which led to the discovery of the illegal substance.

The CBD oil, worth roughly $165,000, is made from cannabis that possesses low levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

Seller and Defedele, both 37 years-old, face up to 11 years in prison and up to $20,000 in fines if convicted.

A previous version of this story stated the traffic stop occurred at 12:04 a.m.