Gainesville man charged with selling marijuana after deputy reported seeing incoming messages on his phone, asking to buy marijuana, while he was detained

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Aramis Rivera-Velez, 25, was arrested last night and charged with selling marijuana after a deputy who was searching his car after a traffic stop reported seeing incoming messages on his phone from people who wanted to buy marijuana.

At about 8:57 p.m. on April 13, an Alachua County Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 1000 block of SW 60th Terrace after observing that the car did not have a white light illuminating its license plate.

The driver and passenger both reportedly started to get out of the car, and the deputy told the passenger to stay in the car. The driver, later identified as Rivera-Velez, started walking away. The deputy told Rivera-Velez to come back to his patrol vehicle, but Rivera-Velez reportedly said, “You didn’t have a reason to stop me” while continuing to walk away. The deputy caught up to Rivera-Velez and placed him in handcuffs.

Rivera-Velez reportedly identified himself and said his driver’s license was suspended. The deputy reported a strong odor of marijuana from Rivera-Velez himself and from the vehicle. Rivera-Velez reportedly said he had smoked earlier and does not have a medical marijuana card.

A search based on the smell of marijuana reportedly produced four baggies of marijuana in a crossbody bag, totaling 75.9 grams; a scale with a green leafy residue; and a baggie with marijuana that weighed 4.4 grams. The crossbody bag was reportedly between the driver’s seat and the driver’s side door, and the other baggie was in the center console in plain view.

While the deputy was searching the vehicle, Rivera-Velez reportedly received “numerous” text messages, asking to buy marijuana. The deputy noted that his phone was on the driver’s seat and the messages could be viewed from the lock screen without unlocking the device.

Rivera-Velez’s driver’s license has been suspended since 2020 for failing to pay a ticket; although he paid the ticket in 2022, the court docket indicates that a reinstatement fee is still required.

Post Miranda, Rivera-Velez did not wish to answer any questions.

Rivera-Velez has been charged with possession of marijuana with intent to sell and driving with a suspended license. He has a juvenile conviction from 2016 and was arrested in 2017 after allegedly entering unlocked cars at the Hailey Gardens apartment complex and taking cash from one of them; the charges were later dropped. Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $27,500.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.