NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — Five men were arrested on felony drug charges after they allegedly sold marijuana and other THC products from a chain of illegally operated New Jersey dispensaries, Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella said Sunday.
Michael Ligus, 24, Damian Wesler Sr., 44, Damian Wesler Jr., 22, and Anthony Garcia, 44, were reported to be the owners and operators of Dirty Jerzy Supplies in Englewood, according to Musella, and Ezekiel Paulino, 25, was an employee of the legal marijuana dispensary.
During the investigation, undercover detectives from the county's Narcotic Task Force purchased marijuana and other THC products from locations in Englewood, Butler, Randolph, and Scotch Plains.
Last Friday, detectives executed a court-authorized search warrant on a gray Cadillac Escalade SUV, seizing more than fifty pounds of marijuana, as Ligus and Wesler Sr. were transporting bulk marijuana shipments from Boston to Bergen County, according to Musella.
Authorities also executed search warrants at Dirty Jerzy Supplies locations in Butler, Randolph, and Scotch Plains, in addition to a Fairfield warehouse operated by the dispensary chain, as well as Ligus, Wesler Sr., Wesler Jr., and Garcia's homes. Multiple vehicles linked to the drug distribution investigation were also searched.
Those searches resulted in the seizure of hundreds of pounds of marijuana, THC edibles, THC wax/oil, and approximately $305,000.
Selling marijuana from an unregulated, retail storefront location is currently illegal in New Jersey.
Pursuant to the investigation, all five New Jersey men were arrested and charged.
Ligus, Wesler Sr., Wesler Jr. and Garcia were all charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute hashish oil edibles, Musella said.
Ligus and Wesler Sr. were also charged with possession of marijuana over 25 pounds with intent to distribute, and in addition, Ligus was charged with money laundering in an amount greater than $75,000 but less than $500,000.
Additionally, Paulino was charged with possession of hashish oil edibles over 5 pounds with the intent to distribute.
Ligus, Wesler Sr., Wesler Jr. and Garcia were all remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending their first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack. Paulino was issued a summons and released.
Related
Related
