Porter Co. drug haul sets record

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VALPARAISO — A three-week investigation by narcotics officers with the Porter County Drug Task Force led to the arrest of two men and the seizure of about 14 pounds of high-grade marijuana selling for $300 an ounce.

The arrests were made Thursday night at 252 Greenwich St. in the Hilltop neighborhood.

Narcotics officers on Friday called it the largest seizure ever in Porter County of “Dank Bud,” as the high-grade marijuana is called.

Joshua Matthew Bennett, 21, of Apartment 9 at the Greenwich Street address, and Joel Mario Machiorlatti, 23, of Big Rapids, Mich., were taken to Porter County Jail.

The drug agents said Bennett was buying four pounds of the marijuana and had $6,650 in cash in stacks of $1,000 in a pants pocket.

He claimed he got accepted into college and his parents gave him the money for school bills, according to court documents.

A narcotics officer called Bennett’s parents. His mother said she didn’t give him any money and his father said he gave his son two $100 bills, police said.

While narcotics and probation officers were at the apartment, Machiorlatti walked inside and spoke briefly with Bennett, they said. Bennett told Machiorlatti he would have to come back later because Bennett’s probation officer was there.

Machiorlatti was carrying a bag in his hand and shirt with something rolled up in it, officers said. He quickly turned to leave Bennett’s apartment. The narcotics officer ordered Machiorlatti to stop and ran down the stairs after him.

The drug agent said he grabbed Machiorlatti at the bottom of the stairs and Machiorlatti dropped a large bag with about a pound of marijuana. Machiorlatti also was carrying a large nylon bag with three more pounds of marijuana, the narcotics officer said.

Ten more one-pound plastic bags with marijuana were found in the back of Machiorlatti’s 1999 Chrysler Town and Country minivan, so the van was seized.

Police will ask Judge Alexa to turn the van over to the drug task force under drug forfeiture laws.

Both men are facing Class C felony charges that carry two-to-eight-year sentences. Typically, marijuana charges are Class D felonies or misdemeanors.

Chief Deputy Prosecutor Brian Gensel said Bennett was charged with a C felony because his drug activity was within 1,000 feet of the Hilltop House day care center.

Bennett was charged with conspiracy to possess marijuana with intent to distribute the drug. He was on probation on unrelated drug charges, the officers said. He was ordered held without bond.

Narcotics officers said they learned Bennett had been selling the high-grade marijuana since January.

Machiorlatti was charged with a Class C felony for possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute an amount greater than 10 pounds, Gensel said. Bond for him was set at $20,000.

They will have initial hearings early next week before Porter Superior Court Judge Bill Alexa, Gensel said. Charges were filed Friday afternoon.

Narcotics officers said Machiorlatti was afraid to tell them who his supplier is, fearing for his safety and that of his family. The drugs apparently came from the Gary area, the drug agents said.

A narcotics officer said he answered a call on Bennett’s cell phone and agreed to meet the person in South Haven late Thursday night. The man said he wanted one ounce of marijuana and had been purchasing the drug from Bennett for about a month for $300 an ounce, according to court documents.


Post-Tribune
Frank Wiget
fwiget@post-trib.com.
July 10, 2004
http://www.post-trib.com/cgi-bin/pto...1_news_05.html