Local and state officials teamed up Friday to arrest a Salisbury woman who has allegedly made drug trafficking a family affair.
Officials from the Rowan County Sheriff’s Department, Salisbury Police Department and SBI charged Alma Delia Olvera, 30, 1150 Airport Road, Lot 411, with two counts of trafficking in marijuana, maintaining a vehicle to keep a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance within 300 feet of school property.
Olvera was pulled over on Airport Road near Salisbury Academy. The Sheriff’s Depart-ment seized Olvera’s 1988 Buick Regal.
Upon receiving anonymous information, officials had established surveillance at Olvera’s home. After watching her put a box in her trunk and drive off Friday, officials pulled her over and found 34 pounds of marijuana. The drugs have a street value of $81,600.
Olvera was taken to Rowan County Detention Center and placed under $5,000 secured bond, which she posted.
If convicted, Olvera will face a minimum sentence of two years and one month to a maximum of two years and 10 months, according to Sgt. Kevin Auten, special investigations narcotics unit supervisor.
“We were disappointed with it (the amount of bond),” Auten said. He added that in cases with definite time to serve if convicted, like this one, there is a flight risk.
Olvera’s family members are no strangers to the law.
In 1995, officials arrested her brother, Jesus Olvera, along with two other men, after they found the three in possession of 100 pounds of marijuana, with a street value of $2.4 million, during a traffic stop. Jesus Olvera was convicted and sentenced, but fled. He remained a fugitive for several years until officials in Mexico arrested him on more drug charges. Once he finishes serving his time in Mexico, Jesus Olvera will return to the United States, where he faces four years in federal prison.
In 1997, a search of the Olvera residence at 11 Crawford St. revealed approximately $13,000 cash, several firearms and a bulletproof vest which had been stolen and shot at for testing. That investigation continues.
In 1998, another brother, Adolfo “Chico” Olvera, was taken into custody. He faces federal drug charges for the distribution of marijuana. Adolfo Olvera posted bond and never appeared in court. He has been a fugitive since.
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