April O'Neil / news@WHMI.com

Felony charges have been filed against three men accused of transporting nearly 500 pounds of cocaine from Mexico to a warehouse in Wixom.

According to The Oakland Press, the two-count federal indictment identifies a father-son duo, Ivan Blas-Martinez, Martin Blas-Hernandez, along with Erick Carabarin-Gomez, who were arrested at the warehouse on October 1st.

Agents with the Department of Homeland Security began tracking their tractor-trailer on September 27th after cocaine was detected during a vehicle inspection at a border crossing in Laredo, Texas.

The Oakland Press reports after inspection, the hauler travelled to a warehouse in Laredo, where the contents were loaded onto another tractor-trailer that was headed north.

At one point during the trip, the tractor-trailer was reportedly pulled over by police. The driver presented proof that the load was headed for a remodeling company on Beck Road near Wixom.

On September 30th, the tractor-trailer parked overnight at a truck stop in Dexter. The next morning, authorities tracked the tractor-trailer to a warehouse off West Road in Wixom.

The three men were arrested and taken to the Wixom Police Department for questioning. Blas-Martinez, who is the alleged son of Blas-Hernandez, admitted to leasing the Wixom warehouse and unloading nearly 500 pounds of cocaine from the truck. He also admitted to coordinating another shipment of cocaine that arrived in Wixom about three weeks earlier.

A total of 637 pounds of cocaine was seized from the warehouse.

All three men face federal charges, including conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.

If convicted, they face up to 20 years in prison, nearly $1 million in fines for each charge, and three years of supervised release.

A trial is scheduled to be held in Detroit on December 19th.

A link to an article from The Oakland Press with more information is provided.