Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
A Warsaw man was arrested after allegedly selling a confidential informant fentanyl.
Steven Scott Lattea, 54, of 3559 S. Palestine Lane, Warsaw, is charged with four counts of dealing in a fentanyl-containing substance more than 5 grams, level 2 felonies; three counts of possession of a narcotic drug, level 5 felonies; two counts of possession of a narcotic drug, level 5 felonies; and dealing in a fentanyl containing substance less than 1 gram, a level 4 felony.
He was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail at 4:53 p.m. Monday on a $201,500 preliminary bond.
According to the probable cause affidavits, sometime in September the NET 43 Drug Task Force conducted a controlled purchase of fentanyl. A confidential informant provided Lattea with documented task force funds in exchange for 0.39 grams of fentanyl. The controlled substance was captured on digital surveillance.
Sometime between Dec. 1 and Dec. 6, the NET 43 Drug Task Force also conducted a controlled purchase of fentanyl from Lattea. A confidential informant provided Lattea with documented task force funds in exchange of 5.26 grams of fentanyl. The purchase was captured on digital surveillance.
Sometime between Dec. 6 and Dec. 12, the NET 43 Drug Task Force conducted another controlled purchase of fentanyl from Lattea. The confidential informant purchased 5.83 grams of fentanyl. The purchase was also captured on digital surveillance.
Sometime between Dec. 12 and Dec. 17, another controlled purchase was done for 5.5 grams of fentanyl, which was also captured on digital surveillance.
Sometime during January, another controlled purchase was made for 5.45 grams of fentanyl containing substance. The purchase was captured on digital surveillance.
Lattea was previously convicted of dealing in cocaine or a narcotic drug on Aug. 27, 2001, in Whitley County.
