TAVARES, Florida—A woman busted by Eustis Police early this year with nearly 4 pounds of marijuana, scales, THC oil, chocolate bars containing hallucinogenic mushrooms and two concealed guns pleaded no contest to several of the charges Monday and was sentenced to 45 days in jail, with a credit of three days. Her legal woes are not over, however, she is still facing numerous charges in Orange County.
Miranda April Mauck, 30, of Okahumpka, pleaded no contest to three charges Monday, possession of marijuana with intent to sell and two counts of carrying a concealed firearm, according to Lake County Clerk of Court online records. Mauck was originally arrested for those charges in addition to possession of THC oil, possession of hallucinogenic mushrooms and possession of drug paraphernalia. The possession of THC oil and possession of hallucinogenic mushrooms charges were dropped, the disposition of the paraphernalia charge is unclear. Mauck was pulled over for speeding 17 miles over the posted limit by Eustis Police on Jan. 3 and the smell of marijuana was emitting from her vehicle, the arresting officer noted in the arrest affidavit.
A K9 alerted to drugs in her vehicle and upon searching, officers found marijuana in a backpack in plain view on the front passenger floorboard, more than $2,000 cash, a Glock 9mm, a Ruger .380, scales, marijuana packaging, THC oil, vape bars and 10 chocolate bars containing Psilocybin mushrooms. Mauck was arrested and released on $14,000 bond. Less than three weeks later, on Jan. 23, Orange County Sheriff’s Office deputies learned of an illegal “Cannabis Exhibition” in a room at Point Hotel & Suites, 7389 Universal Boulevard, Orlando. The cannabis party was advertised on the Instagram account ”LadyNugsOfficial,” deputies later identified the account holder as Mauck, according to an Orange County probable cause affidavit.
OCSO drove to the hotel and began surveilling the property. They found a white Toyota registered to Mauck and observed two white males who appeared to be acting as “lookouts,” according to the affidavit. They left a short time later in an SUV and were pulled over. Though, deputies could smell a strong odor of marijuana, none was found during a search. The driver, Christopher Bordoy, was released on scene, along with his passenger. Mauck then left the hotel in her Toyota and was also pulled over. Again, deputies smelled a strong odor of marijuana and searched the vehicle. They found 17 grams of marijuana in a pill bottle and Mauck was taken into custody. OCSO found a room key during the search and after taking to the manager, they found the room was registered to Bordoy. OCSO and the manager went to the room where they found a bag of food in front of the door with Mauck’s name, a deputy noted in the affidavit.
They entered the room and found cannabis residue and multiple suitcases and after securing a search warrant, they searched the room. They found multiple bags of cannabis and edibles and more than $7,500 in cash. The cannabis weighed 25.2 pounds and the edibles weighed 52 pounds, according to the affidavit. OCSO has since filed forfeiture proceedings against Mauck and Bordoy on the cash, according to Orange County Clerk of Court online records.
Mauck’s Instagram name, “LadyNugsOfficial” appeared on multiple cannabis bags, a CashApp card and paperwork, the affidavit states. A warrant was issued for trafficking in a controlled substance, trafficking in cannabis and possession of drug paraphernalia on Jan. 27. On Feb. 13, a Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputy spotted a grey Audi and found the registered owner, Mauck, had an Orange County warrant. Mauck was pulled over and arrested on the warrant. LCSO searched her vehicle and found more than 20 grams of marijuana in multiple packages and THC oil. She was arrested on those charges as well as the Orange County warrant, but the Lake County charges were later dropped.
Nearly 10 years ago, Mauck witnessed her boyfriend get shot by an LCSO deputy. On July 15, 2012, Mauck’s boyfriend, Andrew Lee “Drew” Scott, 26, was killed when a deputy came to his door—the wrong door—looking for a battery suspect. A lawsuit filed in 2013 by Mauck and Scott’s parents against then-Sheriff Gary borders and Deputy Richard Sylvester claimed, Sylvester, “banged on the door” of Mauck’s apartment in Leesburg in the early morning, “in such a manner to bewilder or frighten the residents and foreseeably place said residents in a defense posture.”
Mauck and Scott were watching TV in apartment 114 at Blueberry Hill Apartments in Leesburg and Scott, fearing for their safety, retrieved his legally owned handgun and opened the door. Sylvester fired six shots, striking Scott at least three times and killing him. Mauck was struck by glass and debris. Sylvester did not announce himself as law enforcement and was not criminally charged. In response to the lawsuit, defendants Borders and Sylvester filed a motion for a summary judgment and the court granted Sylvester qualified immunity and denied Mauck’s and Scott’s parent’s claims. They appealed the ruling and Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the ruling.
