New York Marijuana Trafficker Sentenced To 42 Months In Federal Prison

David B. Fein, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that WOLFE T. MIKELIC, of Fishkill, N.Y., was sentenced today by United States District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven to 42 months imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiring to possess and distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana.  MIKELIC also was ordered to pay a fine of $20,000.  He pleaded guilty to the offense on April 2, 2012.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in early 2010, troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol stopped a vehicle that contained approximately $351,000 in cash, apparent drug records, photographs of marijuana grows and shipping documents that identified an address in Branford, Conn., as a possible destination for items being shipped by commercial carriers.  After being contacted by the Nebraska State Patrol, Branford Police established surveillance of the Branford location, which was a storage facility.

On January 29, 2010, MIKELIC was stopped by Branford Police officers and Drug Enforcement Administration agents as he drove from the storage facility.  A search of MIKELIC’s vehicle revealed $40,000 in cash, and a search of the storage facility revealed approximately 150 pounds of marijuana packaged in one-pound, heat-sealed plastic bags. A subsequent search of MIKELIC’s New York residence revealed six pounds of marijuana, approximately $34,000 in cash, a money counting machine, a scale, drug records and information that led investigators to another storage location in New York.  A search of that location revealed an additional 38 pounds of marijuana in one-pound, heat-sealed bags.

All of the seized funds have been forfeited.

MIKELIC has been detained since February, 10, 2011, when his bond was revoked.

This matter was investigated by the Branford Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New Haven Task Force, which includes officers from the Branford, Hamden, Ansonia, New Haven, West Haven and Meriden Police Departments.  The Nebraska State Patrol provided valuable assistance to the investigation.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael E. Runowicz.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov