BY MIKE OLIVA

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

A truck driver who was hauling at least 224 lbs. pounds of marijuana toward Howell, Monmouth County, was sentenced to 10 years in prison Monday.

A state trooper on Route 80 in Mount Olive stopped J. Arturo Vegara in Sept. 2010, where he conducted a search after the driver seemed nervous and suspicious throughout the police stop, according to the Daily Record.

Narcotic-sniffing dogs confirmed the presence of the drugs before they were actually found.

Vergara pleaded guilty to the marijuana possession just before the Morris County Prosecutor’s office was prepared to try him and jury selection was finalized, according the Star Ledger.

Without a plea bargain, Vergara would have served 20 years for possession of over 25 lbs. of marijuana.