MARIJUANA GROW HOUSE LEADER SENTENCED TO 7 YEARS, 6 MONTHS

BUNNELL -- The leader of a ring that ran marijuana grow houses was
sentenced to seven years and six months in prison Thursday after he
pleaded guilty.

Michael Fanelli, 39, was responsible for three grow houses in Palm
Coast that produced 25 pounds of high-grade marijuana every 12 weeks,
according to a news release from Florida Attorney General Bill
McCollum's office.

The estimated street value of each crop came to more than $110,000,
according to the release.

Fanelli of Palm Coast and four other people ran the operation from
rented houses in Palm Coast for about two years, delivering throughout
North Florida.

Co-defendants include Fanelli's brother Troy Fanelli, Michael Belgarde
and Tony Thatch. Earlier this year, they all pleaded guilty and their
sentences ranged from 10 years probation to seven and a half years in
prison, according to the news release.

Co-defendant William Stampfle has a sentencing hearing scheduled for
Jan. 9.

Police from three counties made the drug sweep in April. They pulled
200 pot plants, about $58,000 in cash and about 25 pounds of processed
marijuana, according to the news release.

Outside of the drug ring, James O'Brien, the brother of a Flagler
County Sheriff's Office major, was also arrested in April after
investigators say they saw him buy the same kind of marijuana
cultivation equipment the Fanellis used and followed him home.

He pleaded no contest and received 24 months probation. Sheriff Don
Fleming said in April that Maj. David O'Brien was not involved with
the marijuana production and had the sheriff's complete confidence.