Authorities seize pot, cash, firearms; 1 man arrested

About 60 pounds of
marijuana has been taken off the streets so far.

By TIM YOVICH

VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF

WARREN — Investigators say the street price of marijuana is going to increase with the seizure of $350,000 cash and 24 pounds of marijuana in the largest drug raid in recent years in Trumbull County.

“We got the bad guy off the street,” Sheriff Thomas Altiere said Wednesday afternoon.

So far, one person has been charged in the four-month investigation that is just beginning, police said.

Richard Minich, 27, of 4006 Fairlawn Heights Drive, Howland Township, appeared Wednesday in municipal court on a charge of trafficking in marijuana. He is being held in the Trumbull County Jail without bond. Judge Terry Ivanchak set a preliminary hearing for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Altiere described Minich as being “one of the major marijuana dealers” in the area.

Minich, who police said has no local criminal record, was arrested in his fortified home.

Altiere and Howland Police Chief Paul Monroe said Minich’s home was one of three residences searched Wednesday morning.

Jeffrey Orr, commander of the Trumbull-Ashtabula Group Task Force, said a fourth search warrant has been issued but not been executed.

He said marijuana, cash and firearms were found at the three locations. The second and third residences are a duplex at 151-153 Bonnie Brae Ave. in Warren. The three residences are rental properties.

The four warrants were issued by Judge W. Wyatt McKay of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court.

Assisting TAG in the investigation are Warren, Howland and Champion police, Ohio State Highway Patrol, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation, and the U.S. Treasury Department’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Altiere said that such a large amount of money was seized that it will be taken to a bank for counting.

“I haven’t seen this amount of [drug] cash in years,” Monroe added.

Orr said marijuana, cash and firearms were seized at the three locations. The money was neatly stacked in various denominations and kept together with rubber bands.

In addition, police confiscated a scale, money-counting machine and three weapons — two pistols and a shotgun.

Since the investigation began, Orr said, 60 pounds of marijuana have been intercepted by Wednesday’s seizure and drug buys made by investigators.

Orr noted that the raids were timely because he wanted to get the drugs out of circulation before distribution. The investigators said taking such a large amount out of circulation will increase the price of what remains on the streets.

The marijuana was packaged in plastic zipper-top bags and cash divided into denominations. Monroe said it indicates that Minich “knows what his assets are.”

Orr explained that Minich’s residence had steel doors with bars over them. The doors were barricaded from the inside. There were also three pit bulls at the house that were taken to the Trumbull County Dog Pound.

The house was equipped with a video surveillance system. Inside was an indoor marijuana growing system with 48 plants.

Authorities will be following bank accounts, cell phone records and computer memories during the ongoing probe, Monroe said.

The marijuana was reportedly coming to Minich from Michigan and Florida for distribution in Ohio and Pennsylvania, Altiere explained.

He alleged that Minich was an “upper level” dealer who dealt in pounds of marijuana. A pound of the drug sells for $2,200.

Orr said the two pistols confiscated are made by HiPoint Firearms in Mansfield. Drug dealers buy them because they are inexpensive — about $200 each.

yovich@vindy.com