The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Wichita recently filed a civil asset forfeiture case concerning two bags of cash totaling about $153,000 that were seized during a Dec. 12, 2024, traffic top on I-70 near Russell at mile marker 189.

Two travelers said the money came from prostitution after they “did some strange for some change,” but the suit alleges the money was part of drug smuggling on I-70 and subject to forfeiture.

An affidavit describes how the two travelers in a Kia Sportage were stopped for driving infractions by Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper James McCord. They said they were traveling from Reno, Nev., to Atlanta, Ga., in a rental car. Each had a bag of cash, one with about $103,000 and one containing about $50,000. They claimed the cash was payment for prostitution, but the civil case alleges it was proceeds from drug smuggling along I-70.

The complaint does not list the travelers as defendants. Instead, the cash bundles are listed as two “defendant properties.”

The affidavit, attached to the complaint as Exhibit A, was written by KHP Trooper Scott Moses, currently assigned as a Task Force Officer (TFO) with the Drug Enforcement Administration. He said there is probable cause to believe the money was tied to federal drug crimes, making it subject to forfeiture.

According to the affidavit, the Kia was driven by Shamariya Lewis from Atlanta and her passenger was Jordan Smith. Trooper McCord saw the Kia traveling in the left lane at 77 mph near mile marker 184. The trooper turned through the median on the road and observed the Kia slow to 64 mph but remain in the left lane. The Kia pulled off at the rest area at mile marker 187 and the trooper remained in the area.

“When the Kia rejoined the highway, Trooper McCord observed the Kia begin to pass a semi but, during the pass, the Kia slowed to 67 mph and the semi began to pull away from the Kia.”

The trooper stopped the Kia and when he approached he reported detecting the odor of marijuana.

Trooper McCord had Lewis come back to his patrol car while he worked on the paperwork. He asked Lewis about her travel to Reno. She said they had flown out there to celebrate her friend’s birthday. However, there was an argument and since they were not going to be able to stay with their friend, Lewis and Smith decided to rent a vehicle and drive back. Lewis said they did have tickets to fly back to Atlanta on Dec. 12, which cost $503. She indicated the car rental was almost $1,000 for a one-way rental.

Lewis told Trooper McCord that she worked in a warehouse and made $24 an hour and Smith was a certified nursing assistant. The trooper asked Lewis about the odor of marijuana and she indicated she had last smoked a marijuana vape in Reno.

The trooper requested a canine be deployed around the vehicle and it gave a positive indication to the odor of narcotics. During a search of the vehicle he located two bags on the backseat. One was a black Fisher Price backpack which contained two large bundles of U.S. currency and several loose $100 bills, along with women’s clothing. In one of the zippered pockets, officers located marijuana gleanings. The second black duffel bag contained one large bundle of currency and women’s clothing.

Smith and Lewis were transported to the Russell Kansas Department of Transportation office for questioning. Smith claimed ownership of the duffel bag and said it contained approximately $25,000. (The actual amount was about $50,000.) Smith further claimed they had about $70,000 between the two of them.

“When asked by Trooper McCord how they obtained the United States currency, Smith indicated they did some stuff, and the got paid.”

The Fisher Price backpack was claimed by Lewis and contained approximately $103,100 in cash.

“Trooper Carr” came to the office to interview Smith. He is later referred to as TFO Carr.

She repeatedly told TFO Carr, “We did some strange for some change and that’s it.” She also told Carr the money did not involve drugs and continued to reference prostitution as the source of the money. When asked further about her statements and the money, Smith stated it was a one-time thing and that she was embarrassed and did not want to talk about it.

“Smith stated it is not something she does regularly. Smith also indicated that she was not working for anyone.”

Smith refused to identify the man who paid them to come out to Nevada.

While Carr was interviewing Smith, Trooper McCord advised someone named “Carlos” called the KHP dispatch looking for his friend Jonathon and stated that Jonathon’s phone was pinging at the Russell Kansas Department of Transportation office. This individual called several times attempting to get information on Smith and Lewis.

The next day, Carr spoke to the caller when he called back to ask about his sister. When Carr asked the caller to identify himself, he hung up.

TFO Carr seized three cell phones, two from Smith and one from Lewis. “An exploitation of the cell phones indicated that this was not Lewis’ first trip. There were many text messages which indicated narcotics distribution activity. Other text messages indicated prior money pickups conducted by Lewis. Additional text messages communicated the pickup location for the ‘$150k’ and transmitted instructions for its pickup.”

Based on that information, the affiant asserts there is probable cause to believe the money was used in drug trafficking and is subject to forfeiture under federal law.

A search of federal court records shows no criminal charges against the two women named in the affidavit.

Scott Nace, supervisory law enforcement coordinator with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas, did not have any information he could share with the Great Bend Tribune at the time of this story.