A Brownsville man was arrested in Wharton on last Wednesday after officers found a large amount of hidden cash during a traffic stop. Fayette County Sgt. Randy Thumann, working with Wharton Police Sgt. Justin Pannell, stopped Raul Melendez, 48, near U.S. 59 and FM 102. A joint investigation led to Melendez being charged with second-degree felony money laundering for an amount between $150,000 and $300,000. Wharton PD praised Thumann, Pannell, and K9 officer Kolt for their role in the bust, highlighting their efforts to combat illegal smuggling.