California man gets probation for marijuana treats

One of three Willy Wonka wannabees from Southern California who mixed cannabis with chocolate to produce a trailer load of medical marijuana products was fined and sentenced Monday to probation.

Philip DiNapoli, 26, of West Hollywood, Calif., was a passenger in a rented U-Haul truck that was stopped by authorities Dec. 21 outside Kingman, Ariz.

Police found 1,700 pounds of marijuana-laced chocolate treats in the truck bound for the East Coast, which three men on board admitted making in Los Angeles, according to police reports.

An exhausted DiNapoli was interviewed by Arizona Department of Public Safety officers.

"He showed me his hand where it was swollen from stirring chocolate for several days. He explained that there was 6,000 chocolate bars in six or seven varieties," a police report said. "He said there were also 3,000 crispy bars in either Coco Pebbles or Fruity Pebbles flavor."

DiNapoli was sentenced Monday after previously pleading guilty to transportation of narcotic drugs for sale. He apologized for breaking Arizona laws but noted his activity was legal in California .

DiNapoli told Mohave County Superior Court Judge Steve Conn the cross-state cannabis crusade cost him 75 days in jail and that he would keep his business affairs in California in the future. Conn ordered DiNapoli's release from jail Monday, placed him on probation for three years and imposed $3,700 in fines .

Charges were pending against DiNapoli's brother Michael DiNapoli, 27, and Jared Roberts, 25, both of Los Angeles.