Austin couple charged in FedEx drug scheme

AUSTIN, Texas -- Travis County investigators say they've busted an elaborate scheme starting with a FedEx delivery of nearly 30 pounds of pot.
An Austin home on La Casa Drive is where an arrest affidavit states two separate deliveries of medical-grade marijuana, totaling 50 pounds, were made through FedEx on Nov. 9 and 10. The affidavit states that the marijuana has a street value of $300,000.
"It is pretty surprising," said nearby resident Austin Burke. "That is a lot of drugs to ship through a commercial shipping company."
"It is a really quiet neighborhood," said neighbor Emily Tindall. "I have never heard anything or really seen anybody at that house. It is entirely surprising."
What those receiving the drugs did not know is that investigators were aware of the shipments. In fact, a Travis County sergeant dressed as a FedEx delivery man dropped off the second package.
The affidavit states the man who opened the door and removed the package, Gino Angulo, lived at 3706-A Clawson Road, just a couple of miles from the rental property. There, investigators found what they believe was the previous day's delivery of marijuana: two and a half pounds of hashish, large amounts of bulk currency and unlabeled prescription pills. Lauren Ann Ferrier, 32, who also lived at that address, was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana.


Gino Angulo, 33, and Lauren Ann Ferrier, 32, are facing felony drug and marijuana possession charges, according to the affidavits released in recent days. Both were booked Thursday and released on bail days later, said Roger Wade, spokesman for the Travis County sheriff’s office.
This month, investigators working undercover saw a FedEx package delivered to a home at 2006 La Casa Drive near South Lamar Boulevard, the affidavit said. The package was left at the door, where a note read: “To whom it may concern: Please leave any deliveries on the front porch. Thanks FedEx.”
Before the undercover operation was conducted, a package from Berkeley, Calif., slated for delivery to the same home was flagged by FedEx workers for a suspicious odor and found to contain more than 20 packages of marijuana, the affidavits said.
A man later identified as Angulo was seen retrieving the package, the affidavits said. Investigators believe the home on La Casa Drive was a rental used by Angulo and Ferrier to receive drugs through FedEx delivery, the affidavits said.
Medical marijuana, hashish and prescription pills were seized in law enforcement searches conducted on two homes connected to the couple, including the La Casa Drive rental home, the affidavits said. Officials estimate that $300,000 in medical marijuana, or 50 pounds, were seized in the searches, the affidavits said.
Angulo, who was released Monday, faces $75,000 in bail for five drug-related charges, while Ferrier, released Saturday, faces $50,000 for two felony drug-related charges, Wade said.