A 59-year-old man from Lakewood, New York, has been sentenced to prison for operating a large-scale marijuana grow operation. Donald Rupert was convicted of manufacturing 100 or more marijuana plants.
On January 5, 2011, members of the Lakewood Busti Police Department responded to Rupert’s residence on Baker Street Extension to check on the welfare of his elderly mother. During the welfare check, the police chief detected an odor of marijuana. A search warrant was subsequently executed, and officers recovered 227 marijuana plants and $7,000 in cash.
The investigation into the marijuana grow operation was a collaborative effort between the Lakewood Busti Police Department, the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Department, the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. announced the sentencing, which was handed down by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. In addition to the 24-month prison sentence, Rupert was also ordered to forfeit $75,000.
Rupert was found to have been operating a significant marijuana grow operation, with 227 plants recovered during the search. The operation was deemed large enough to warrant a conviction for manufacturing 100 or more marijuana plants.
The sentencing marks the culmination of an investigation that involved multiple law enforcement agencies working together to take down the marijuana grow operation. The operation was deemed a success, with the defendant being held accountable for his actions.
Donald Rupert’s sentence serves as a reminder that operating a marijuana grow operation is a serious offense, and those who engage in such activities can expect to face significant consequences.
As part of his sentence, Rupert must also forfeit $75,000. This forfeiture reflects the significant financial gain that Rupert derived from his marijuana grow operation.
The case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas S. Duszkiewicz. The investigation was led by the Lakewood Busti Police Department, under the direction of Chief John R. Bentley, Jr., the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Department, under the direction of Joseph Gerace, the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force, under the direction of Lieutenant David Bentley, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt, New York Field Division.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Drug Trafficking|White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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