Man gets 5 years for role in family’s marijuana delivery scheme

(ST. CHARLES) A California man was sentenced to five years in prison Friday for his role in his family’s west suburban marijuana delivery scheme.

Nicholas A. Salemi, 24, pleaded guilty to unlawful delivery of cannabis Friday, according to a statement from the Kane County state’s attorney’s office.

Judge John A. Barsanti sentenced him to five years in prison and a fine of $39,000, according to the statement. He will receive credit for at least 168 days served in the Kane County jail.

Salemi and his girlfriend—Maryhelen Kwiatkowski, 32—shipped about five pounds of marijuana from California to Kane County through the postal service, according to prosecutors.

Some of the proceeds from the sale of the marijuana were received by Salemi’s parents, Anthony and Gina Salemi, prosecutors said.

On June 11, authorities executed a search warrant at the parents’ home on North Glen Oak Lane in St. Charles, and seized cannabis plants, as well as drug paraphernalia and marijuana, authorities said at the time.

Kwiatkowski is charged with unlawful delivery of cannabis and is next scheduled to appear in court Jan. 30, 2015, according to the statement.

Anthony Salemi, 56, is charged with money laundering, producing/possessing cannabis plants, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of cannabis. His wife, Gina Salemi, 52, is charged with money laundering.

Their next court appearance is set for Dec. 4.