The Columbus man charged as a major drug offender in Muskingum County appeared before Judge Mark Fleegle for his arraignment Wednesday morning.

Michel Yanni, 41, pleaded not guilty to trafficking in drugs, a first-degree felony, and permitting drug abuse, a fifth-degree felony.

According to Muskingum County Sheriff Matt Lutz and Zanesville Police Chief Tony Coury, Yanni was arrested after being pulled over on Route 40 in Brownsville by the Central Ohio Drug Enforcement Task Force.

With his charges, Yanni’s sentence upon conviction would be 11 to 12 years in prison.

Yanni is being held in the Muskingum County Jail on a $1 million bond.

The arrests of both Yanni and Terry Bocook were announced during a press conference on Nov. 8.

According to a media release, the two pounds of methamphetamine seized in the arrests have the combined street value of approximately $35,000.

Authorities were unable to comment about how and if the cases are related.

$35,000 worth of meth seized in arrest of two alleged major drug offenders