(The Weissman Report)
BUFFALO, NY — U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced that Jorge
Melendez, 41, and Jason Elardo, 42, both of Buffalo, New York, were arrested
and charged with conspiracy to manufacture more than 100 marijuana plants,
maintaining a premises for manufacturing marijuana, and manufacturing more than
100 marijuana plants.
Assistant U.S.
Attorney Melissa M. Marangola, who is handling the case, stated that according
to the criminal complaint, Melendez, a Buffalo Police officer, owns a warehouse
at 2157 South Park Avenue in Buffalo. During the course of an investigation
into the cultivation and distribution of marijuana, law enforcement officers
installed hidden surveillance equipment on the second floor of the warehouse
where a grow operation was located. According to the complaint, Melendez and
co-conspirator Elardo were observed tending to over 100 marijuana plants.
Prior to installing
cameras inside the warehouse, officers monitored the outside of the building,
also using surveillance cameras. According to the complaint, Melendez was
observed arriving in a Buffalo Police patrol car, while on duty, and entering
and exiting the location. Melendez works in the Buffalo Police Department’s “D”
District; however, the warehouse is located in the “A” District.
The outside
surveillance cameras also observed Elardo entering the warehouse on a daily
basis to tend to the marijuana grow operation. In addition, officers obtained
credit card information indicating that Elardo purchased equipment used to
sustain an indoor, hydroponic marijuana grow operation. The equipment included
a dehumidifier and filters.
At one point during
the investigation, officers observed a police badge and credentials belonging
to Melendez inside the warehouse. According to the complaint, Melendez claimed
to have previously lost the badge and identification.
“Police officers are
sworn to protect the public and uphold the law,” said U.S. Attorney Hochul. “It
is particularly disturbing when an officer breaks the law he has sworn to
uphold. This defendant chose to not only commit a crime, he did so, at times,
in uniform and when he was supposed to be patrolling the streets of the city,
protecting its citizens. Our office will not only act to stop illegal narcotics
trafficking, we will not tolerate public corruption of any kind.”
The charges carry a
mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, a maximum of 40 years, a
fine of $4,000,000, or both.