Retired FBI agent weighs in on Fabini investigation

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - Federal court documents were unsealed Thursday charging Michael Fabini for drug trafficking and money laundering.  It appears authorities have been trying to link Fabini to another large pot bust since 2008.  A retired FBI special agent said it's common for drug trafficking investigations to take a long time.

Dozens of charges follow December raids

Fabini faces 44 charges listed in the federal indictment.  Marshall Butler and Jamison Gudorf were also indicted after the December raids.

In March of 2008, the Allen County Sheriff's Department raided a home in Harlan, Indiana.  They seized almost three and a half tons of marijuana and arrested Matthew McChesney.   Court documents say Fabini was involved with making and distributing marijuana at that same property.

It's a connection that took authorities at least five years to solidify.  Retired FBI special agent Douglas Garrison explained why drug trafficking investigations can take so long.

"What law enforcement is trying to do is a bit of a balance between getting the problem taken care of by investigation and indictment and making sure that they get a full understanding of what the crime problem is...so they can, if possible, take it all down at once," Garrison said. 

After several different attempts, NewsChannel 15 could not reach the Fabini family for comment on Friday.

Neighbors living near Michael Fabini's home said they suspected something suspicious was going on and weren't surprised when he received charges for drug trafficking and money laundering.