INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — The Indian River County Sheriff’s Office arrested a county man, accused of growing 160 marijuana plants in a wooded area in the south portion of the county, as well as trafficking cocaine and morphine, and possessing Ecstasy and Oxycodone.
The suspect, identified as 31-year-old Benjamin Malvita, of 7th Court SW, Vero Beach, has since been released from the county jail on $72,500 bond. He faces several charges including drug trafficking and possession and marijuana cultivation.
In all, authorities seized 160 marijuana plants ranging in size from 6 inches to more than 5 feet, 99 grams of cocaine, two pounds of marijuana, 144 morphine pills, five Oxycodone pills, four Ecstasy pills, and a 2002 Buick LeSaber.
According to the arrest report, a Sheriff’s helicopter unit spotted what appeared to be marijuana plants in the area of 20th Avenue and 17th Street SW. The unit landed and investigated, finding a trail that led to the grow operation.
Investigators set up a camera near the operation to capture images of whoever was tending the plants. Within a couple days, the camera captured images of the suspect, who was identified because the tattoos he had matched those logged in the Sheriff’s Office database.
Authorities later returned to the operation and seized the plants. Deputies also found Malvita driving and followed him back to his home on 7th Court SW and observed him handling something in the trunk of his car.
According to the arrest report, he was not seen with anything in his hands. Malvita then went inside the home. A half-hour later, authorities received a search warrant, which they executed on the home and vehicle, finding bags filled with plastic baggies containing various drugs, including cocaine, morphine pills, Ecstasy and Oxycodone.
Malvita told authorities that he owns the property where the marijuana plants were grown and that the LeSaber is his vehicle and the only other person to get in it is his girlfriend, who had not been in the vehicle that day.
