Cops Take Romeoville Man's House After Jailing Him on Drug Charges

The cops seized a Romeoville man’s home after raiding the house and finding molly and pot set up for sale by the front door, police said.

Michael Fortin, 20, was arrested and taken to the Will County jail after the raid on his Montrose Drive home Tuesday. Fortin was being held in lieu of $500,000 bond, but even if he came up with the money to get out, he’d have to find a place to stay since the cops took his house.

Fortin has a court date next week to try and get his residence back.

In a complaint for forfeiture filed in Will County court Wednesday, the state’s attorney’s office claimed it can take the house because Fortin was using it—or intending to use it—to deal drugs.

When the police hit the house Tuesday, they found 60 small bags of molly marked with various prices and about 15 grams of prepackaged pot, the complaint said. The cops also reportedly found digital scales, empty plastic bags and $452 cash.

“The narcotics and mixed United States currency were all next to the front door of the residence, clearly accessible for quick door-side transactions,” the complaint said.

As Fortin was taken into custody, he said “Ohh man I just got another property and was turning it all around,” and, “Can I at least smoke a cigarette before I go to jail,” the complaint said.

Fortin claimed to be “self-employed,” the complaint said, but he declined to elaborate on his line of work.

Fortin has a pending case for the manufacture or delivery of a look-alike substance. He was charged with the crime in November 2013. He was freed on $75,000 bond in January.

In June 2013, Fortin was charged with possessing LSD with the intent to deliver it. The charge was reduced three months later, knocked down to the manufacture or delivery of a look-alike substance, and shortly after dismissed all together.

Fortin bought the house in March 2014 for $88,000, according to county records.

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