Man accused of hiding more than 4,400 pounds of marijuana in watermelon crates

A federal grand jury has indicted a California man accused of smuggling more than 4,400 pounds of marijuana in watermelon crates.

On Tuesday morning Pedro Rene Monteagudo, from Hawthorne, Calif., went before U.S. Magistrate Judge Felix Recio to receive formal notice of the indictment, which charges him with possession with intent to distribute more than 4,400 pounds of marijuana.

Monteagudo, whose age was unavailable, remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

His arrest took place Oct. 22 when a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper patrolling U.S. Highway 77, north of Conley Road in Willacy County, stopped a tractor trailer that had an obstructed registration, said the criminal complaint filed by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

While interviewing Monteagudo the trooper became suspicious, citing discrepancies to the man’s reason for travel and length of stay in the Rio Grande Valley, the DEA said.

After receiving verbal consent to search the trailer, the trooper discovered one large bundle hidden within the crates of watermelons. In all, 95 bundles of marijuana weighing a total of 4,403 pounds were found, records show.

The criminal complaint states that once in custody, Monteagudo said he was contacted by the owner of a transportation company to fly from California to Harlingen and then drive a load of produce to Florida. However, Monteagudo told investigators that after the truck was loaded with the watermelons the owner offered him $8,000 to $10,000 to transport a load of marijuana, court records say.

The court records continue to say, Monteagudo accepted the deal because the money was just "too good."

The case remains under investigation.