A California woman is facing major legal trouble in Indiana after a highway traffic stop resulted in the finding of several kilos of cocaine and marijuana.
Angela Rice, 54, of Chino, California, was stopped on March 31, 2020, while driving eastbound on Interstate 90 near mile marker 30 in Porter County.
According to court documents, a police officer started a traffic stop after seeing a rental Audi SUV violate the fog line and drive on the rumble strips. Rice, the driver, allegedly smelled strongly of smoked marijuana and had green leafy particles on her lap. She also gave a rental agreement with a return address in Los Angeles while claiming that it was due in Detroit.
During a probable cause search of the vehicle, authorities discovered a blue backpack containing roughly 300 grams of marijuana and a suitcase containing three brick-shaped bundles of cocaine weighing about eight pounds (3 kilograms).
After the stop, a taped communication revealed that Rice mentioned the marijuana and inquired about the presence of cocaine in the suitcase. During a subsequent police questioning, she denied knowledge of the drugs.
The charges were filed on February 10, 2025.
Charges Filed:
• Dealing in Cocaine (Level 2 Felony) – more than 10 grams
• Possession of Marijuana (Class B Misdemeanor)
Angela Rice was formally booked into the Porter County Jail on July 6, 2025, for the pending felony and misdemeanor charges.
