DUBOIS – A former DuBois man is charged with possessing several firearms and more than $15,000 that he allegedly obtained by selling drugs.
Brandon Allen Patino, 34, currently an inmate of the Indiana County Jail, is charged with three counts of possession of firearm prohibited, three counts of firearm not to be carried without a license, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity, manufacture/delivery/possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and criminal conspiracy.
The charges stem from an incident in DuBois May 26 when officers served a search warrant on Patino’s residence and found guns, money and drug packaging materials.
A preliminary hearing in this case scheduled for Friday was continued until March 15.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, two confidential informants told police they had been threatened by Patino, who was involved with distributing methamphetamine. They said he had several weapons at his West Long Avenue apartment.
An officer checked on Patino’s record and discovered he had a prior robbery conviction that would prohibit him from owning or possessing firearms. A search warrant was obtained for the apartment.
Among the items found were several things associated with the use and distribution of controlled substances. This included a digital scale, Western Union receipts for the exchange of money, and plastic baggies.
Officers found a barrel of a firearm, which was sawed off, and a wooden stock that had also been sawed off. A K-9 officer alerted on a black safe found in the residence. Another warrant was obtained for the safe, which is the type used to store firearms.
Inside the safe was a .50 caliber muzzle loader, a .22 caliber rifle, a Ruger semi automatic .40 caliber pistol, a scope, plastic wrap and $15,000 in cash.
