Trio arrested on gun, drug charges in Lewes

LEWES, Del. – Three people are behind bars following a traffic stop Monday evening in the Lewes area.

At around 7:20 p.m., a trooper on patrol saw a white 2001 Cadillac DeVille parked outside of the Wawa at 17663 Dartmouth Drive in Lewes. The trooper noted that the car had recently been reported as being involved in gunshots being fired in the Milton area and had also been reported as driving recklessly on Coastal Highway after the shots were fired.

The trooper approached the vehicle and saw that the front seat passenger, identified as 19-year-old Samuel Mondestin, had a handgun on his lap. When the trooper made contact with the occupants, he saw Mondestin try to hide the gun next to the passenger seat. Mondestin and the driver and back seat passenger, 20-year-old Gelber Sandoval-Velasquez and 20-year-old Jocelyn Flores Estrada, were all taken into custody. When Flores Estrada was being detained, troopers saw that she had been sitting on another handgun, which had an obliterated serial number.

Troopers subsequently searched the vehicle, recovering the two guns and additional ammunition. Mondestin was also found in possession of approximately 31.69 grams of Xanax pills, and Sandoval-Velasquez was found in possession of approximately 43.57 grams of Xanax pills. Signs of impairment were detected in Sandoval-Velasquez, and it was determined that he had been driving under the influence of both alcohol and drugs.

Mondestin was charged with numerous firearm possession charges and was held at SCI on a $101,200 cash bond.

Flores Estrada was charged with multiple firearm related charges and held at SCI on a $60,000 cash bond.

Sandoval-Velasquez was charged with possession of a controlled substance and driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol and drugs. He was held at SCI on a $2,700 cash bond.