Newport Beach man arrested on suspicion of selling narcotics

Fountain Valley police announced Thursday a late September arrest of a Newport Beach man who is alleged to have been in possession of hundreds of Adderall and Xanax pills and over $25,000 in cash.

Police were investigating Joseph Carmine Morinello, 37, who was believed to be involved in large scale narcotics trafficking, according to the news release. Investigators acquired a search warrant for Morinello, his vehicle and his residence.

Morinello was stopped in Fountain Valley during a traffic stop on Sept. 30, according to police Sgt. Donald Farmer. A search revealed Morinello was in possession of 861 Adderall pills, 355 Xanax pills and more than $25,000 in cash.

Morinello was arrested on suspicion of possession of for and intent to sell narcotics and subsequently booked into Orange County jail. Morinello is no longer in custody and is out on a bail of $125,000, according to jail and court records.

Investigators also turned up an additional 19,072 Adderall pills in an Anaheim storage unit while serving another search warrant.

He pleaded not guilty to both charges on Oct. 4 and is scheduled to next appear in court for a pre-trial hearing at the North Justice Center in Fullerton on Dec. 16. Police said they believe the value of the pills collected is estimated to be over $300,000.

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