Lorain man charged with having 2 kilos of cocaine, $30,000 cash in SUV in May

A Lorain man who police said had 2 kilograms of cocaine and more than $30,000 in cash in his SUV when stopped by police in May will be arraigned Monday on three felony criminal charges. Michael McAfee, 42, was charged Aug. 8 in a Lorain County grand jury indictment with trafficking in cocaine, possession of cocaine and possession of criminal tools, all felonies plus multiple forfeiture and other specifications according to Common Pleas Court records. His arraignment and first pretrial hearing are Monday in Judge Chris Cook's courtroom said defense attorney Anthony Rich, who on Friday declined further comment on his client's case. All of the cash could be forfeited to the state if McAfee is convicted on the forfeiture specifications. McAfee also is charged with a major drug offender specification for having at least 100 grams of cocaine. If McAfee is convicted of a major drug offender specification, Cook would be required to impose the maximum sentence on the felony it's connected to. Lorain Municipal Judge Mark Mihok set McAfee's bond at $1 million cash or surety on June 5, and a bondsman posted it that day. McAfee was released from the Lorain County Jail that same day on court-supervised release and a GPS monitor with orders not to leave the county, according to court records. The Lorain County Prosecutor's Office said McAfee was stopped May 28 by Lorain police while driving a Land Rover. Chief Assistant Prosecutor Chris Pierre said McAfee admitted driving on a suspended license and said he had court-ordered privileges to drive for work, but couldn't come up with the required paperwork showing he had driving privileges. A U.S. Border Patrol K-9 sniffed out 2 kilograms of cocaine in the SUV, Pierre said. Officers allegedly found $29,070 in cash in a grocery bag in the SUV, and McAfee allegedly was carrying another $1,354 in cash and two phones. McAfee is on community control through January 2027 after pleading guilty to having weapons under disability and improper handling of firearms in a motor vehicle, both felonies, and misdemeanor charges of DUI and having weapons while intoxicated. Judge Christopher Rothgery sentenced McAfee in that case in January, according to court records. At sentencing in that case, Rothgery warned McAfee he could get up to 30 months in prison, or 2½, if he violated the terms of his community control sanction. A merits/probation revocation hearing is scheduled Oct. 8, according to court records. Contact Dave O'Brien at (440) 329-7129 or dobrien@chroniclet.com.