Self-Described ‘Worst Drug Dealer’ Sent To State Prison

A man with a 20-year history of drug convictions was sent to state prison recently.

Michael Robert Ratti, 41, of Bristol Township’s Levittown section, was sentenced to six and one-half to 15 years in state prison after pleading guilty before Bucks County Judge Wallace Bateman to two counts of delivery of a controlled substance, one count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, and two counts of criminal use of a communications facility.

Middletown police began investigating Ratti earlier this year, and he sold heroin to an informant in January and March, leading to a search warrant being executed at his house on Ailanthus Lane.

Investigators discovered heroin, marijuana, and pills in his house. They also uncovered marijuana oils, edible forms of marijuana, amphetamine salts, crack cocaine and heroin in his bedroom.

Ratti told police he was “the worst drug dealer.”

In court, Deputy District Attorney Tom Gannon said Ratti would extract the oil from raw marijuana and make lollipops, candies and electronic cigarette cartridges for smoking using it.

Deputy Public Defender Ann Russavage-Faust said that Ratti sold drugs because he “is struggling with addiction.” She further stated he cooperated with investigators and admitted his guilt immediately.

“I think a lengthy period of supervision, given the history, is appropriate,” Bateman said to Ratti. “You’ve been involved with drugs for over 20 years.”

Pointing to Ratti’s history of drug-related crimes, Bateman chided him for committing similar crimes over and over again.

“It’s not just that you committed a crime, but you committed the same kind of crime,” the judge said.

“You were running an illicit pharmacy from your home,” Bateman said. “You’re introducing drugs into the community … and you know how bad that is. You’re addicted yourself.”