KINGMAN, Ariz. – A significant drug seizure unreported by law enforcement came to light during a Sept. 29 change of plea hearing at the Mohave County Law and Justice Center in Kingman. Samantha Perez, 28, San Bernardino, California, pleaded guilty to transportation of dangerous drugs for sale.
Perez was a passenger in a vehicle from which more than 97 pounds of methamphetamine was seized following an Aug. 3 traffic stop.
Mohave County Sheriff Sgt. Phil Gardoni was monitoring traffic when he spotted a 2025 Jeep Cherokee with a broken windshield commit several moving violations while westbound on Interstate 40 in Golden Valley, according to agency spokeswoman Anita Mortensen. She said the driver failed to pull over during the ensuing attempted traffic stop.
A Probable Cause (PC) statement said that the Jeep exited at Shinarump Drive and parked off the Interstate before its driver fled into the desert. The document said that Perez remained in the passenger seat while the driver identified as Diliwar Singh, 29, Fontana, California, was detained.
The PC said an open-air sniff by a law enforcement K-9 alerted on drugs in the vehicle.
“A dark colored suitcase was observed in the back seat,” the PC said. “Upon opening the suitcase a black trash bag was observed and within were numerous Ziploc style baggies with a white crystal-like substance consistent with methamphetamine.”
Deputy county attorney James Schoppmann said the 47 packages of meth totaling 97.27 pounds have a value estimated at $869,000. He said Perez admitted she was to be paid $5,000 for helping transport the drugs.
“I did agree to the $5,000, that’s what I’m guilty of,” Perez said.
Terms of the plea deal require imposition of a 7.5-year prison term at a Nov. 2 sentencing hearing.
Singh remains in custody at the Adult Detention Facility with bond set at $200,000. He awaits trial for transportation of dangerous drugs for sale, possession of dangerous drugs for sale, unlawful flight and possession of drug paraphernalia.
