In the end, it was bad registration and insurance that led police to a “known” Maricopa drug dealer, and his arrest. 

It was about 10 a.m. Monday morning when Maricopa Police Department officers pulled over a silver 2000 Mercury Grand Marquis because its registration was suspended for no insurance.  

In the parking lot of Circle K on Honeycutt Road near Porter Road, cops found Cesar Castellanos in the driver’s seat and two passengers: Devon Duke and Nathan Rojas, 19. 

In police documents, officers said the trio all seemed nervous, were visibly shaking and refused to make eye contact.  

No illegal items were found in the vehicle. However, during a consensual search of Rojas, cops found a large ziplock bag in his pocket containing several empty small ziplock baggies and three additional baggies that contained about 2½ grams of cocaine. 

Castellanos told officers that Rojas is known to sell drugs and admitted to giving him rides to sell drugs in the past. On Castellanos’ cell phone was evidence of such rendezvouses, police noted.  

His phone and Rojas’ were taken as evidence.  

Rojas was arrested and booked into the Pinal County jail on charges of possessing dangerous drugs for sale, possessing dangerous drugs and possessing drug paraphernalia. 

He faces a minimum of seven years in prison if convicted in Maricopa Justice Court on all charges.