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TRENTON
- Attorney General Anne Milgram and Criminal
Justice Director Gregory A. Paw announced
that a Piscataway man pleaded guilty today
to two first-degree charges for operating
a large-scale marijuana growing facility
inside his home in Piscataway.
According
to Director Paw, Timothy Gordon, 42, pleaded
guilty today to first-degree charges of
operating a marijuana production facility
and possession of marijuana with intent
to distribute before Superior Court Judge
Frederick P. DeVesa in Middlesex County.
Under the plea agreement, the state will
recommend that Gordon receive a state prison
sentence of 12 years with 5 ½ years
of parole ineligibility. He also will be
required to forfeit his house and his 2003
Dodge Grand Caravan.
Deputy
Attorney General Russell Curley took the
guilty plea for the Division of Criminal
Justice – Gangs & Organized Crime
Bureau. The charges resulted from an investigation
by the New Jersey State Police Marijuana
Eradication Unit, assisted by the Piscataway
Police, the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s
Office and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
State
Police detectives, assisted by members of
the other participating agencies, executed
a search warrant at Gordon’s house
on Penrose Lane on March 11 and discovered
more than 500 marijuana plants growing inside
the house. Gordon had extensive equipment
and supplies to grow the marijuana, including
grow lamps, ventilation systems and equipment
for growing plants hydroponically in a solution
of water and nutrients. A single mature
marijuana plant can generate up to $2,000
in drug sales.
Gordon
is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge DeVesa
on June 27. He currently is free on $200,000
bail.
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