Detectives with the Narcotics and Highway Interdiction Unit of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office have begun a new initiative in which they are educating hotel and motel owners in Lee County to better recognize possible drug activity in their hotels.

Sheriff’s officials said that on Monday, July 12 this training paid off when detectives were contacted by an employee of Homewood Suites at 16450 Corporate Commerce Way, Fort Myers, in reference to suspicious activity in one room at the hotel.

The tenants of the room who became suspects were identified as David Lavon Massey, 20, and Nadia Rodriguez, 22. After an extensive investigation, both were placed under arrest for the following charges: Possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, money laundering, possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, possession of mar4ijuana under 20 grams, possession of drug paraphernalia, carrying a concealed firearm, and conspiracy to commit a felony.

During the course of the investigation, detectives said they recovered a 9 mm Taurus handgun, 2 AK-47s, a 9mm MAC-10 semi-automatic handgun, 24 Oxycodone pills, 711 Xanax pills, 65 prescription pill bottles, and $22,775 in currency.

These arrests are the direct result of a partnership that has been built with local hotels and The Lee County Sheriff’s office through this new initiative, officials said. Authorities went on to say that Homewood Suites acted quickly in contacting the Sheriff’s Office due to suspicious behavior taking place at their establishment. By making the phone call, they were protecting loyal customers and keeping Lee County safe, authorities said.