MICHIGAN CITY | A man described by police as a "major player" in the sale of heroin in Michigan City could face as much as a 200-year prison sentence.

Police said Chad Skwiat, 23, was cutting into Gary's heroin business by serving customers who normally would drive there for their drugs.

Skwiat likely handled more than 50 percent of the heroin sold locally, said Michigan City police narcotics division Cmdr. Sgt. Dave Legros.

"If he wasn't the top, he was right up with the other ones," Legros said.

Skwiat was taken into custody Monday afternoon while leaving his residence at Terrace Acres, a mobile home community along U.S. 20 on the city's far west side.

Twenty-three grams of heroin worth more than $4,000 were confiscated from his home along with 8 grams of cocaine and more than $1,000 in cash, Legros said.

Two handguns and a large amount of drug paraphernalia also were taken out of the home, police said.

Skwiat, also known as "Fat Chad," is charged in LaPorte Superior Court with four Class A felony drug-related counts. Each carries a sentencing range of 20 to 50 years.

Skwiat is accused of conducting 50 to 70 drug deals a day for a year at various locations with customers also from outside Michigan City in places like Trail Creek and LaPorte.

Skwiat was a user before dealing and in August was arrested on a possession of heroin charge.

He had quit using the drug in recent months, Legros said.

"He hasn't been using any of the product. He's been making all of the money," Legros said.

The LaPorte County prosecutor's office is working with the assistant U.S. attorney's office in determining whether to transfer the charges to federal court.