(Michigan City, IN) - A man with a prior federal drug related conviction was arrested in Michigan City after a police officer walking up to his vehicle was greeted by a cloud of marijuana smoke.  Leonel Portes of East Chicago is charged with Level 5 felony possession of cocaine.

According to La Porte County Police, an officer monitoring traffic Friday night stopped the man after noticing his vehicle southbound on Franklin Street did not have a functioning license plate light.

While Portes was rolling down his driver’s side window, the officer reported being overwhelmed by marijuana smoke visibly emitting from the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

The man is charged with having 2.1 grams of cocaine contained in a plastic bag on his possession.  So far, no charges have been filed in connection with about one ounce of marijuana in three separate plastic bags found in the vehicle.

According to police, a computer check revealed Portes has at least one prior federal conviction related to the sale of cocaine.  He could face anywhere from a one to six year sentence on his latest charge.