A Southern California man caught with 2 kilograms of cocaine during a traffic stop in Southern Utah was sentenced to more than three years in federal prison, while his passenger avoided a felony conviction after entering into a diversion agreement with the state.

The driver, James Lafayette Ruth, 46, was sentenced during a hearing held Sept. 25 at U.S. District Court in St. George on one federal count of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.

The passenger, Panya Femi Martin, 45, also from Southern California, faced a second-degree felony possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance charge. But she entered into a diversion agreement on Sept. 15 during a hearing at the 5th District Court in Beaver.

The traffic stop

The couple was arrested during a traffic stop o

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