Authorities: 18 pounds of pot mailed to Aurora home
An Aurora couple and a Wheaton man face charges of drug trafficking after a package containing 18 pounds of marijuana was delivered to Kane County this week through the mail.
John M. Virzi, 29, of the 1S600 block of Winfield Road, and Desiree and Stephen A. Schindlebeck, 24, and 29, of the 900 block of Pearl Street, were arrested Monday and charged with cannabis trafficking of 5,000 grams or more and felony marijuana possession, court records show.
Virzi and Desiree Schindlebeck were arrested about 2 p.m. after a package, which had been flagged by U.S. Postal Inspectors, was delivered to the Aurora home, said Mark Piccoli, director of the DuPage Metropolitan Enforcement Group, which assisted Aurora police in the investigation and arrests.
Piccoli said once authorities determined the package contained illegal drugs, police obtained a search warrant to execute after the package was delivered and accepted.
The package contained 8,261 grams of marijuana, which is about 18 pounds, which has a street value of $82,610, Piccoli said. "It's quite a large amount of cannabis to be shipped," he added.
Stephen Schindlebeck was not home at the time and was arrested about an hour later in Lockport, Piccoli said. Authorities also found paraphernalia and packaging materials in the home on Pearl, he added.
Virzi's bail was set at $350,000. His attorney, Richard Russo, wants a judge to decrease Virzi's bail to 10 percent of $50,000 so his family can post bond. Virzi lives with his parents and grandmother and is not a flight risk, Russo argued in court papers. Also, if he is incarcerated before trial it will hurt his ability to assist in his defense, Russo said.
Virzi is due in court Thursday, and it is unclear when a judge will hear his bond reduction motion.
The Schindlebecks each posted $10,000 bond this week and were released. They are due in court Wednesday.
Attorney Justin Sather, said neither client has a previous arrest, and he did not have enough information on the case to comment.
If convicted of the most severe charge, each defendant faces up to 30 years in prison with no chance of probation.