Woman indicted on cocaine possession in Merced County

A federal grand jury on Thursday indicted a Washington woman who was arrested earlier this month in Merced County and is accused of being in possession of more than 40 pounds of cocaine, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced.

Martha P. Pio, 37, of Tacoma, Wash., was charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine and other allegations, U.S. Attorney Benjamin Wagner said in a news release.

Pio was arrested July 1 after a California Highway Patrol officer stopped her while driving north on Highway 99, near Sandy Mush Road. She was initially stopped by officers because she was driving with tinted windows, officers said.

The CHP said Pio allowed officers to search her vehicle, a 2006 Dodge Ram pickup.

Investigators found a hidden compartment containing 17 brick-shaped packages of cocaine, weighing more than 40 pounds total, prosecutors said.

Authorities estimated the street value of the seizure at more than $300,000.

If convicted, Pio faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine, prosecutors said.

She is being held in the John Latorraca Correctional Facility without bail, according to booking records.

This story was originally published July 16, 2015 at 4:29 PM with the headline "Woman indicted on cocaine possession in Merced County."