Pot, cocaine seized in Antioch drug bust

An Antioch man has been charged with possession of marijuana with intent to deliver after police seized 420 grams of pot from his home, authorities said.

Matthew Banis, 22, of the 300 block of Bridgewood in Antioch, faces five years in prison if found guilty of the charge.

Banis was also charged with possession of cannabis, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a firearm without a FOID card.

Antioch Police Chief Craig Somerville said a search warrant was executed on Banis’ residence Thursday following an extensive investigation. Marijuana, several rifles and ammunition, a Taser gun, $10,000 cash, and scales and plastic bags were seized, Somerville said.

The street value for the marijuana is about $2,000, Somerville said.

Police also found a small amount of suspected black tar heroin, powdered cocaine and psilocybin mushrooms, Somerville said. He said the case remains under investigation.

The cash and a 2009 Volkswagen GTI were among assets seized by police, Somerville said.

Banis was taken to bond court, where he was remanded to the Lake County jail on $50,000 bail, of which he must post $5,000 to get out.

He is due back in court Oct. 9.

“Our goal is to put drug dealers out of business and use their assets to finance additional drug enforcement operations and drug awareness programs,” Somerville said. “There is a big difference between a person struggling with an addiction and a dealer who distributes the poison into our community. I believe the best rehab method for a drug dealer is to shut them down, seize their assets and send them to the penitentiary.”