Bay County, Fla. (WDNews) — A co-owner of a regional ambulance service has been arrested after authorities say he transported cocaine from Alabama into Florida using an ambulance.
According to the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, Gabriel Moschella, who is listed as a co-owner of Coastal Care EMS, was taken into custody Wednesday following a traffic stop.
Investigators say deputies with the Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Division spotted an ambulance traveling southbound that was reportedly speeding and did not have a license plate. Authorities say Moschella had driven into Alabama in one of the company’s ambulances and was returning to Florida when deputies conducted the stop.
Deputies asked Moschella if he was performing a medical transport, and investigators say he told them he was. However, authorities reported there were no patients inside the ambulance at the time.
During the stop, deputies deployed a K-9 unit to conduct a free-air sniff around the vehicle. The K-9 reportedly alerted to the presence of narcotics.
According to investigators, a search of the ambulance led to the discovery of 53.8 grams of cocaine, approximately $22,000 in cash, a handgun and an “O” sheet, which authorities say is commonly associated with narcotics sales.
Moschella was charged with trafficking cocaine over 28 grams, importing a controlled substance into Florida, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
Records show Moschella previously served as Interim Chief of Bay County Emergency Services but resigned following an investigation in 2023. He is currently listed as a co-owner of Coastal Care EMS, a company launched in 2024.
