DOVER, Fla. (WFLA) — Hillsborough County deputies reportedly caught a 10-time convicted felon with over $50,000 in stolen silver coins and bars Wednesday after pulling him over for a traffic violation.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said 34-year-old Justin Reeves was spotted committing a traffic violation while driving in Dover on Nov. 13.
At the time, he was arrested for possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. However, a thorough search of his vehicle reportedly revealed something stranger.
Deputies said they found heavy bags containing large quantities of collectible silver coins and silver bars in the car.
According to the sheriff’s office, detectives were later able to trace the items to their rightful owner: an elderly Hillsborough County resident whose home had been burglarized.
The burglary had gone unreported due to the resident being out of town, officials said.
Detectives also searched Reeves’ home, where they reportedly found additional coins and silver bars, along with two or three firearms that had been reported stolen from a Dover home about a week earlier.
The sheriff’s office said Reeves has an extensive criminal history and was just recently released from prison in August. Nine different charges have now been filed against Reeves related to the recent incidents.
The charges against him include:
- Armed burglary of a dwelling
- Burglary of an unoccupied conveyance
- Felon in possession of a firearm
- Grand theft firearm X3
- Grand theft
- Grand theft second degree
- Dealing in stolen property
- Possession of controlled substance
- Possession of drug Paraphernalia
“Thanks to excellent investigative work by our units, we were able to return stolen property to its rightful owners,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said following the arrest. “Our top priority is keeping our community safe and making sure brazen criminals like this one are held responsible.”
