Police: Home pot-growing operation busted in upscale area
A drug operation supplied in part by marijuana grown in the basement of a house in a tony Nassau County neighborhood was busted following a joint investigation by Glen Cove and Nassau police and the Nassau district attorney's office, police said Wednesday.
Six people were arrested Saturday, including James Blatchly, 49, of 251 Oyster Bay Rd., Locust Valley. Glen Cove police said Blatchly ran the operation out of an apartment in Locust Valley and a home in the upscale Roslyn neighborhood of Flower Hill.
Police said search warrants were served Saturday at an apartment at the back of Blatchly's home in Locust Valley and the other home in Flower Hill.
Blatchly, a painter, ran what police called "a mini drug factory," including the manufacture of crack cocaine, at his Locust Valley address.
Police said they confiscated about 100 marijuana plants, seven ounces of cocaine and "substantial drug paraphernalia."
The other warrant was served on a house at 67 Knollwood Dr. W. in Flower Hill. Police said the basement had been converted into a hydroponics lab - with sun lamps, incubators, watering, ventilation and carbon dioxide gas systems for plant growth.
On the second floor, the plants were dried and packaged for sale, police said. About 300 plants were seized, police said.
Blatchly was charged with eight felonies, including first-degree criminal possession of marijuana (more than 10 pounds); one count of second-degree and two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance; two counts of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance; fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon; and two counts of fourth-degree conspiracy. He was held on $300,000 bail, police said - and was scheduled to appear in court again Wednesday.
Also arrested were brothers Greg and Jeff Ergen of West Harbor Drive, Bayville, Robert Nelson of Valley Lane, Locust Valley, Thomas McCarthy of Oyster Bay Road, Locust Valley, and Salvatore Marino of 12th Street, Locust Valley.
The Nassau district attorney's office said McCarthy was charged with first-degree criminal possession of marijuana, fourth-degree criminal conspiracy and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon.
Nelson was charged with second-degree and third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and four counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, officials said, while Jeffrey Ergen was charged with fourth-degree criminal conspiracy.
The charges against Greg Ergen and Marino were not immediately known.
Posted Wednesday, April 28, 2010
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