Firefighter Charged With Having Pot Grow House

Photograph of a Kentucky grow house from the SEA

Federal prosecutors have charged an FDNY firefighter with maintaining a marijuana grow house—with 100 plants— in a rented Queens home's basement. Patrick Murray was "arraigned on charges of manufacturing and possessing a controlled substance with the intent to distribute."

Apparently the DEA has been looking at a "narcotics trafficking organization that grows marijuana in houses in Queens and sells it throughout the New York region," according to the NY Times. It's believed that Murray was a part of the group, and when feds received a tip about him moving "high-power lights"—the sort that are used for grow houses—into a U-Haul, investigators moved in. From the Daily News:

Murray was sitting in the U-Haul truck when cops approached him and asked what he was doing, the complaint states.

The firefighter claimed he was just making a U-turn in the driveway, but cops knocked on the door of the house and a tenant told them Murray had been moving items out of the basement, which reeked of marijuana.

The cops followed the strong smell of pot wafting from the basement and found the plants growing in an unlocked room. The off-duty firefighter was also carrying keys to three doors in the house.

The street value of the marijuana plants found was $500,000. Murray, who didn't enter a plea, was released on $250,000 bail and faces between 5 and 40 years in prison if convicted. He has been suspended from his position at Engine 292 as well. second firefighter may be charged as well.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on February 26, 2009 1:43 PM

Comments [rss]

Ethan

Is this why I see a fire truck in front of Pathmark at 10:00PM?

sluggo

yes, thanks, excellent link!

thefacts

I knew of DEA agents who would stuff extra bales in their trunk at the incinerator, and threatened my friend, an employee, with a gun if he mentioned it.

It was 20 years ago, so I guess it is OK now to divulge that.

But this is a case of the fox guarding the hen house.

babyhitler

No. it taught me that I'm so fucking awesome that someone actually cared enough to stalk me and hack into my account to swf my ass. I didn't even think my ego could get this big. thanks a lot bro.

NannyState

But we already did that on Londonist...

New York Jobs

This was very informative.

Thank you for posting!

Snoopy

Again I ask where and when are they burning this devil weed?

Think2wice

This would be the kind of economic enviroment to end marijuana prohibition.

jaycjay

A few years ago, Harvard University's Jeffrey Miron produced a report titled The Budgetary Implications of Marijuana Prohibition. Among the findings, quoting from the summary:

"The report estimates that legalizing marijuana would save $7.7 billion per year in government expenditure on enforcement of prohibition. $5.3 billion of this savings would accrue to state and local governments, while $2.4 billion would accrue to the federal government."

"The report also estimates that marijuana legalization would yield tax revenue of $2.4 billion annually if marijuana were taxed like all other goods and $6.2 billion annually if marijuana were taxed at rates comparable to those on alcohol and tobacco."

http://www.prohibitioncosts.org/index.html

adeez

Great stuff.

I didn't check the site, but I assume this only considers marijuana, and not hemp.

If so, then we could probably double those numbers.

calcetines

The only aggressors here are the DEA officers.

sluggo

Taxing it will help keep the city fat and happy. Gotta love that. I read yesterday that taxing and legalizing it will potentially make California a billion yearly. NY can use that dough! We're already paying alot for it, anyway. I don't mind if some of it goes to the city or state.

This town would really mellow out with people toking up legally.

Doctor Memory

So to sum up: the DEA have destroyed 100 marijuana plants out of the (easily) millions in New York State alone, and have taken a fireman off duty forever.

I feel safer already!

ganghiscon

Five to 40 years for growing plans. WTF?

jibbly

That's what it ultimately comes down to right? Because all the negative stuff involving marijuana - drug runners, gang/cartel turf wars, etc - are all because this particular plant is illegal.

What a sad, fucked up world.

Full disclosure: I don't touch the stuff or anything else illegal. Alcohol is so much more readily available!

sluggo

What a non-crime! When will this stupid waste of taxpayer money end? LEGALIZE AND TAX IT!

RDR105

Legalize it and we will advertise it!

WestVillageVintage

Like Peter Tosh said Legalize it. Then tax it. Do the same for prostitution.

felixthecat2

I agree with the legalize but no need to tax it. geez.

turb0mikey

So he grew some good indoor bud. chances are i could have enjoyed a strain since its Queens. AND he would race into a burning building? These laws against herb have to go. tax him and let him go be a firefighter (who incidentally dont get paid enough)