Crime Correspondent: Orient Road Jail

Francisco Pecina was charged with trafficking in cocaine and conspiracy to traffic in cocaine.

Francisco Pecina was on the telephone Friday night with Joe Luis Castanada talking about a cocaine deal involving a couple hundred grams, police said. Around 10 p.m., the two men agreed to meet at Pecina's home, 12020 E. Bay Road, Gibsonton, where police said Castanada was to pick up the drugs. Tampa police put the home under surveillance, according to affidavits. When Castanada was seen leaving Pecina's house, Hillsborough County sheriff's deputies, working with Tampa police, followed. They pulled over Castanada, 23, on U.S. 301. Castanada, of 5620 Center St., Wimauma, had a suspended license, so Deputy Don Hess arrested him and searched his car. The deputy found 268 grams of powdered cocaine, according to reports.Castanada, listed in jail records as a mason for Coastal Construction, was charged with trafficking in cocaine, conspiracy to traffic in cocaine, both felonies, and driving with a suspended license/habitual traffic offender, a misdemeanor. He is being held in Orient Road Jail. Bail has not been set, jail records show. After Castanada's arrest, police intercepted another call from Pecina. He was calling his wife, Maria Cecilia Ramones, 35, listed in jail records as a teacher at It's Kids Time in Riverview.Pecina, 34, asked his wife to remove cocaine from their house, according to the affidavits.A few minutes later, investigators saw Ramones drive away. She was detained at a parking lot at U.S. 301 and Gibsonton Drive.A police drug dog arrived and alerted officers to something in the trunk of the car. Investigators found a brick of powdered cocaine and five bags of cocaine, with a combined weight of 660 grams. Ramones, who told authorities she did not know the cocaine was in the car, was charged with trafficking in cocaine and conspiracy to traffic in cocaine. Pecina also was charged with trafficking in cocaine and conspiracy to traffic in cocaine.Pecina said he sold Castanada a quarter kilo of cocaine for $6,200 and that he bought a kilo earlier that day for $22,000 on consignment, according to the affidavit.Pecina and Ramones are also being held at the Orient Road Jail with no bail set.

Francisco Pecina was charged with trafficking in cocaine and conspiracy to traffic in cocaine.

Francisco Pecina was on the telephone Friday night with Joe Luis Castanada talking about a cocaine deal involving a couple hundred grams, po...