California-to-Long Island Pot Pipeline Dismantled; 12 Men and Women Indicted for Conspiracy

(Long Island, NY) One dozen defendants have been indicted for their roles in a conspiracy to bring potent strains of marijuana grown on Northern California farms to Long Island for lucrative street sales, Suffolk County District Attorney Spota said.

The district attorney, joined at a news conference today by the Suffolk Police Department’s Chief of Detectives, William Madigan, and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Christopher Lau of the Office of Homeland Security (HSI), said the thirteen month-long investigation utilizing intercepted telephone calls and court-authorized search warrants established that Brian Poole of Bellport operated as the head of the scheme that trafficked 960 pounds of high grade marijuana with a wholesale value of $2.2 million dollars.

Multiple defendants have been indicted for their roles in a conspiracy to bring potent strains of marijuana grown on Northern California farms to Long Island. Photo Credit: SCPD.

“Poole arranged the delivery of approximately 80 pounds of marijuana every month to Suffolk County, and he made a profit of between $500 to $800 dollars on every pound he sold,” District Attorney Spota said.  The investigation found that Poole, 27, had marijuana shipments mailed to Long Island from the west coast on a regular basis since May 29, 2014.

“These arrests dismantle a multi-state drug trafficking organization whose final destination for drugs were the streets of Suffolk County,” said Raymond R. Parmer Jr., special agent in charge of HSI New York.  “HSI is committed to working alongside law enforcement partners like the SCDA and SCPD to put an end to criminal organizations that flood our neighborhoods with dangerous drugs”.

Brian Poole mug shot. Photo Credit: SCPD.

Brian Poole pleaded not guilty today to criminal possession of marijuana and conspiracy charges, and to two charges of criminal possession of a weapon in the second and third degrees.  Detectives seized a defaced, loaded handgun and a stun gun in Poole’s home in Bellport.

All of the marijuana that made its way to Suffolk County was packaged by conspiracy codefendant Maigan Rodriguez, 25, in a stash house in Redding, California. Rodriguez, who pleaded not guilty to conspiracy and possession of marijuana charges in the first degree, managed Poole’s pot commerce in California, negotiating for Poole the best purchase price for the highest quality crop.

“Over the course of the investigation we learned the most popular strains sought after by Suffolk County dealers and buyers were the exotic strains named “Girl Scout Cookies”, “OG Kush”, and “Grand Daddy Purple”.

Investigators were successful in tracking Poole’s pot payments to his California connections, usually by cash withdrawals by pot growers accessing bank accounts in both states under Poole’s control.  Poole also used female couriers to fly cash to California.

Eric Gomez mug shot. Photo Credit: SCPD.

Defendant Eric Gomez of Calverton pleaded not guilty to conspiracy, criminal possession of marijuana and tampering with physical evidence charges.  “The tampering charge stems from Mr. Gomez attempting to flush marijuana down his toilet when he saw detectives approaching his residence,” DA Spota said.  Bail for Gomez, 29, was set at $5,000 cash.

Defendant Marco Barrila of East Tiana Road in Hampton Bays was Poole’s marijuana reseller to an east end clientele.  Poole is a former employee of Barrila’s Hamptons catering business.  Barrila, 49, was indicted on June 29 and will be arraigned before State Supreme Court Justice John Collins on July13 in Riverhead.

Also facing a felony charge of conspiracy, defendant Brittany Procida of Port Jefferson Station pleaded not guilty today at her arraignment. Procida, 28, returns to court on July 22.

• Brian Poole (DOB: 9-3-1987)
  Bellport
  Conspiracy 4^th
  Criminal Possession of Marihuana 1^st
  Criminal Possession of Marihuana 2^nd
  Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2^nd
  Criminal Possession of a Weapon 3^rd
  Defense Attorney: Robert Macedonio

• Eric Gomez (DOB: 4-26-1986)
  Calverton
  Conspiracy 4th
  Criminal Possession of Marihuana 2^nd
  Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 7^th
  Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 4^th
  Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance 3^rd
  Tampering with Physical Evidence
  Defense Attorney: Richard Pelligrino

• Maigan Rodriguez (DOB: 3-28-1990)
  Redding, CA
  Conspiracy 4^th
  Criminal Possession of Marihuana 1^st
  Defense Attorney: Steven Scaring

• Jose Blanco (DOB: 8-10-1990)
  Bay Shore, NY
  Conspiracy 4^th
  Criminal Possession of Marihuana 2^nd
  Defense Attorney: Eric Besso

• Steven Marfe (DOB:  10-3-1988)
  Astoria
  Conspiracy 4^th  Defense Attorney: Vince Bianco

• Marco Barrila (DOB: 8-23-1965)
  Hampton Bays
  Conspiracy 4^th Defense Attorney: None

• Brittany Procida (DOB: 11-8-1987)
  Port Jefferson Station, NY
  Conspiracy 4^th
  Defense Attorney: William Ferris

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. Defendants are entitled to a fair trial with the burden on the prosecution to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.