Acting on a tip from maintenance workers at a North Hyland Avenue apartment building, Ames police and Story County law enforcement officials uncovered an apparent drug manufacturing and selling operation Wednesday.

A third-floor apartment at 124 N. Hyland Ave. contained cocaine and sophisticated growing equipment, according to the Story County Sheriff’s Office.

The state of the equipment and the newness of the building itself indicated the lab was still being set up, said Capt. Gary Foster of the Story County Sheriff’s Office.

After receiving the tip, police entered a room leased by Sergei Vladimir Antropov, 19, and found drug paraphernalia inside. Along with these items, officials found equipment which was reportedly used to make fake IDs.

Antropov, a former ISU student, kept his actual residence a few blocks away at 145 N. Hyland Ave.

After obtaining a second search warrant, police found marijuana and drug paraphernalia at that address.

Antropov, who was a student at Iowa State the fall 2003 and spring 2004 semesters, was taken into custody and charged with possession with intent to deliver cocaine and with manufacturing marijuana. Both are felony charges. He will also face a charge of prescription drug violation, a serious misdemeanor.

Originally, Antropov was also charged with 10 counts of tampering with public records, which are aggravated misdemeanors. At Antropov’s initial appearance Thursday, Story County Judge Thomas Hronek dropped three of the counts.

Building residents said they had no idea that Antropov was constructing a lab for the manufacture, packaging, and sale of drugs.

One neighbor, Erin Hogan, senior in dietetics, said she’d seen Antropov carrying supplies into the apartment, but thought nothing of it.

“I saw him bringing up pieces of wood, and I heard pounding through the wall, so I could tell he was making something,” she said. “I just thought it was an entertainment center or something. Apparently not.”

Story County law enforcement officials have not released the specific amount of narcotics found in the residence, but Foster indicated there were more than could reasonably be expected for personal use.

“In addition, there was packaging material in the apartment, which gave us reason to believe he may have been selling it,” Foster said.

He declined to say what leads, if any, had resulted from the bust, but indicated that law enforcement officials would continue to investigate.

If convicted, Antropov could face up to 10 years in prison and fines between $1,000 and $50,000 for the cocaine charge. The manufacturing marijuana charge carries penalties of up to five years in prison and fines between $750 to $7,500.

The prescription drug violation, a serious misdemeanor, could bring fines from $250 to $1,500 and up to one year in prison. And any one of the seven tampering with public records charges could be punishable by up to two years in prison and fines from $500 to $5,000.

Antropov’s preliminary hearing has been set for 1 p.m. Friday. He is being held in Story County Jail in Nevada on $100,000 bail.