S. Tahoe woman in Mono County jail on drug charges

By KRNV-TV

A traffic stop for an equipment failure ended with Amy Villastringham, 29, of South Lake Tahoe and Dustin White, 32, of Minden going to jail.

The two were stopped July 16 by deputies on northbound Highway 395 in Bridgeport. As the vehicle was run for current license and registration information, dispatch found Villastringham was driving on a suspended license. White returned with several possible felony warrants, one of which was for narcotics transportation. Villastringham and White were asked to exit the vehicle and asked if there was anything illegal in the vehicle. Villastringham said she had marijuana in the car, but that she had a medical marijuana card for it. White said he had several drugs in a black backpack in the car.

During a search of the vehicle the following narcotics were seized: 346 ecstasy pills; 8 grams of cocaine; 508 grams of marijuana; 221 grams of hash wax; and other narcotics paraphernalia.

Villastringham and White were arrested on charges of possession of narcotics and narcotics paraphernalia, transportation of narcotics, and possible narcotics for sale.

As a result of the traffic stop, a search warrant was issued in South Lake Tahoe on July 19.

Mono County deputies, with the assistance of South Lake Tahoe police officers, South Lake El Dorado Narcotics Enforcement Team, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the California Highway Patrol, served a search warrant at the residence of Villastringham at 1047 Williams St. Additional narcotics and narcotic paraphernalia were found in the residence. Further charges against Villastringham are pending with the El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office.