Tim Ryan, tryan@shawanoleader.com
Two Shawano men are facing felony drug charges in connection with an alleged marijuana operation being run out of a room at the Wisconsin House.
Michael C. Taylor, 62, was charged Thursday with one count of maintaining a drug trafficking place and 10 counts of manufacture and delivery of marijuana.
Wayne O. Bistoff, 57, was also charged Thursday charged with one count of manufacture and delivery of marijuana and a misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia.
Both men are listed in the criminal complaint as tenants at the Wisconsin House, 216 E. Green Bay St., where the alleged drug dealing took place.
Shawano police and Shawano County sheriff’s deputies set up an undercover drug buy from Bistoff in his room at the Wisconsin House in June, according to the criminal complaint.
The complaint states an undercover officer went to Bistoff’s room and purchased 15.7 grams of marijuana from him for $150.
Authorities also set up multiple undercover drug buys during the month of July with Taylor at his room at the Wisconsin House, according to the criminal complaint.
The complaint alleges authorities purchased a total of 28.8 grams of marijuana from Taylor for $600 over the course of the undercover operation.
Authorities executed a search warrant on July 31 on both Taylor’s and Bistoff’s rooms.
According to the criminal complaint, authorities found several baggies of marijuana in Taylor’s room totaling nearly 100 grams, along with pills and cocaine paraphernalia. The search of Bistoff’s room turned up several pieces of drug paraphernalia, the complaint states.
According to the complaint, Bistoff admitted to authorities to being a “middle man” for Taylor and said he had gotten marijuana from him in the past.
The complaint states Taylor admitted selling marijuana to other tenants at the Wisconsin House.
Taylor could face a maximum 3 1/3 years in prison and $10,000 fine on each of the 11 felony counts against him if found guilty.
Bistoff could face the same penalty if found guilty of the felony count against him.
Both men are due in Shawano-Menominee County Circuit Court on March 3 for their initial appearances.