The Associated Press
GLOVERSVILLE, N.Y. (AP) - Police confiscated $200,000 worth of marijuana in a record-topping arrest, authorities said.
Eugene Faehner, 51, and his wife, Frances Faehner, 49, were arraigned Monday on drug charges after police removed 87.5 pounds of marijuana from their home. Both were charged with first-degree criminal possession of marijuana, third-degree criminal sale of marijuana and third- and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon.
“There was no way we could have anticipated this, the largest marijuana-processing operation we’ve seen in the county,” Fulton County District Attorney Louise Sira said.
Sira said she was not aware of any marijuana arrest involving more than 10 pounds.
Police raided the couple’s house, 40 miles northwest of Albany, on Friday and found the plants in a third-floor drying room in the attic.
Officers confiscated $1,435 in cash and equipment used to grow and dry the plants, including eight fans and special lights.
Police also found an unregistered and illegal Tech 22 assault pistol and an unregistered 9mm pistol. Eugene Faehner also owned several legal firearms, including a a loaded 12-gauge shotgun with a pistol grip under his bed.
Police were tipped to the stash after the couple was charged with selling a quarter-pound of marijuana to an informant for $600 in December.
Detectives said they were trying to determine the plants’ origin.
If convicted of the felonies, they could face a maximum of five to 15 years in prison, Sira said.