Marijuana...in the mail? Police bust Waukesha family accused of ordering 32 pounds of pot from California



WAUKESHA (WITI) -- Marijuana in the mail -- and lots of it! Waukesha police busted a family who thought they were getting away with it for months. They'd order weed from California and have it shipped to their house, but someone else was peeping into their packages.

Shannon Collins



Police were able to quickly catch on to the scheme. In December, they executed a search warrant for the packages and the home they were being delivered to and made even more discoveries.

Neighbors living near Oakland and Beechwood in Waukesha are in disbelief over what police say was taking place in a home in the area.

"Yeah, that was a little shocking," Paul Plotkin said.

Court documents obtained by FOX6 News show at least four packages were delivered to a home in the neighborhood since October. Inside each box -- massive amounts of marijuana. The case became part of an existing year-long investigation by Waukesha police involving marijuana drug trafficking organizations. One of those packages, weighing eight pounds has a street value of $47,000. Combined, all of the boxes weighed 32 pounds. Investigators will only say the marijuana has an "extremely high" street value.

"They do try to hide the parcels -- the proceeds and contents of the parcels -- but our detection program is very good," Postal Inspector Brian Haraway said.

Haraway couldn't talk specifically about this case, but he says there are many ways investigators can spot illegal items in the mail.

Shawn Collins



Police say Shawn Collins would order the pot from California and have it delivered to his sister's home. Shannon Collins lives in the home with her boyfriend, Angelo Tagliavia.

"That explains why I haven`t seen Shannon around for awhile," Plotkin said. Plotkin lives directly next door to the home where Shannon Collins lives with her boyfriend, Angelo Tagliavia.

Neighbors stand by Shannon Collins -- calling her and her boyfriend good people and the allegations absurd.

"It`s illegal here and that`s a shame," a neighbor said.

Angelo Tagliavia



After a search of the home, police say they found prescription painkillers and they believe Collins was selling them. Police also found digital scales inside -- commonly used to weigh drugs.

All three of those involved in this case face a long list of charges, including possession with intent to deliver and maintaining a drug trafficking place.

FOX6 News has learned Shawn Collins died last week. No one was home when FOX6 stopped by the home where Shannon Collins and her boyfriend, Angelo Tagliavia live on Tuesday evening, February 10th.