Cops: Driver stopped over cell phone had 7 pounds of pot

A Sound Beach man pulled over Monday on suspicion of using his cell phone while driving in Melville faces felony drug charges after he was found with 7 pounds of marijuana, State Police said.

Anthony C. Palomeque, 38, of 30 Hewlett Dr., was stopped at about 6:30 p.m. while driving a 2003 Infiniti east on the Long Island Expressway near the Route 110 exit.

Trooper Ricardo Baxter said he approached the vehicle and smelled a strong odor of marijuana. Baxter said in a report Palomeque had 7 pounds of marijuana and about 2 grams of cocaine, or about .07 ounces.

He is charged with second-degree criminal possession of marijuana and fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance; each is a Class D felony.

He was scheduled for arraignment at First District Court in Hempstead.