Big Island Man Charged on 22 Drugs, Firearms Offenses

Big Island authorities have charged Loran Jeffrey Gross, 59, with 22 drugs and firearms offenses following an incident late last week.

Hawai‘i Island Police Department Area I Vice detectives arrested and charged Gross, of Mountain View, after a report indicated officers recovered 27.2 pounds of dried marijuana, 232 live marijuana plants, 14 rifles, and more than 20,000 rounds of ammunition following the execution of a narcotics search warrant at a residence in that area on Friday, July 30.
  
In addition to the substantial amount of dried marijuana, the marijuana plants, rifles, and ammunition, police said they also recovered a semi-automatic hand gun, a methamphetamine smoking pipe, and various drug paraphernalia during the search of the residence.
 
Gross, who has 10 prior felony convictions, was charged for three counts commercial promotion of marijuana in the first degree, one count attempted commercial promotion of marijuana in the first degree, one count promoting a dangerous drug in the third degree, 14 counts ownership or possession prohibited firearms, two counts ownership or possession prohibited ammunition, and one count possession of firearm with the intent to facilitate commission of a felony drug offense. His bail was set at $660,000.
 
He remains in custody pending his initial court appearance, which was scheduled for Monday, Aug. 2, in South Hilo District Court.