Kona man charged with drug, firearms offenses

A Kona man wanted for questioning in a drug and firearm investigation saw his legal troubles compound this week when he was located in possession of more firearms and more drugs.

According to police, patrol officers saw Michael Ventrella, 38, Wednesday at a gas station on Kuakini Highway and recognized him as someone they had been seeking for questioning. The officers noticed a firearm in Ventrella’s Jeep and arrested Ventrella and passenger Waiola Corcoran, 36, of Kealakekua.

A search of Ventrella yielded a half-gram of a powdery substance believed to be cocaine. A subsequent search of the Jeep turned up a loaded, unregistered 9mm handgun with eight rounds of ammunition, 1 gram of a substance suspected to be methamphetamine, 1.1 grams of what is suspected to be marijuana, three unprescribed pharmaceutical pills and paraphernalia associated with drug use.

On Thursday, detectives charged Ventrella with 10 separate firearm  and drug offenses. His aggregate bail was set at $93,000. Corcoran was charged with promoting a harmful drug. Her bail was set at $500.

Both were released after posting bail

The Jeep and $127 found on Ventrella were seized for forfeiture proceedings.