Buffalo Police Officer, Three Co-Defendants
Indicted for Operating a Large-Scale Marijuana Grow Operation
BUFFALO—United States Attorney
William J Hochul, Jr announced today that Jorge Melendez, Jason Elardo, Robert
Osika, and Gale Elardo were charged in a 10-count indictment with conspiracy to
manufacture more than 1,000 marijuana plants; manufacturing more than 100
marijuana plants; maintaining a premises for drug purposes; and possessing
marijuana with the intent to sell it. The charges carry a mandatory minimum
sentence of 10 years in prison, a maximum of life, a fine of $8,000,000, or
both.
Defendants Jason Elardo and his
wife, Gale Elardo, were also charged with possessing firearms in furtherance of
drug trafficking for firearms located in their residence in close proximity to
marijuana packaged for sale. This charge carries an additional mandatory minimum
sentence of five years in prison, a maximum of life, a fine of $250,000, or
both. If convicted, the sentence would run consecutive to any other imposed
sentence.
Assistant United States Attorney
Melissa M Marangola, who is handling the case, stated that on May 31, 2012,
Melendez, Jason Elardo, and Osika were arrested after a long-term investigation
into a large-scale marijuana grow operation at three locations.
Specifically, Elardo and Melendez
are accused of maintaining a marijuana grow operation at the warehouse located
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 South Park
Avenue warehouse where a grow operation was located. According to the court
documents, 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 court documents, Melendez was
observed arriving in a Buffalo Police patrol car, while on duty, and entering
and exiting the location.
The defendant works in the
Buffalo Police Department’s “D” District; however, the warehouse is located in
the “A” District.
The outside surveillance cameras
also observed defendant 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 court documents, Melendez claimed
to have previously lost the badge and identification.
On May 31, 2012, two additional
locations were found to contain grow operations.
A warehouse located at 1372
Clinton Street in Buffalo and a residence located at 76 West Woodside, both
owned by Jason and Gale Elardo, were found to contain a marijuana grow
operation. The residence also was found to contain marijuana packaged for sale
and two firearms.
All four defendants were
arraigned this afternoon. They are due back in court on August 6, 2012 at 10 AM
Gale Elardo is schedule to return to court on June 28, 2012 to appear with an
attorney.
The indictment is the culmination
of an investigation on the part of Investigators of the New York State Police,
under the direction of Major Christopher Cummings; the Drug Enforcement
Administration, under the direction of Wilbert L Plummer, Acting Special Agent
in Charge, New York Field Division; special agents of the Federal Bureau of
Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Christopher M
Piehota; and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commission
Daniel Derenda.
The fact that a defendant has
been charged with a crime is merely an accusation, and the defendant is
presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Reported by: FBI