WEEHAWKEN – According to U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman, four men from New Jersey were charged on Thursday with conspiring to traffic large quantities of California-grown marijuana into New Jersey and New York.
Michael Vacchiano, 46, of Weehawken, Kenneth Martin, 41, of North Bergen, Cris Rosenvinge, 32, of Parlin, and 72-year-old William Mabey, Sr. were arrested on Thursday by federal agents during the execution of search warrants as part of an ongoing investigation into selling marijuana and laundering the proceeds.
According to a press statement from the U.S. Attorney’s office, law enforcement agents seized over 100 kilograms of marijuana and more than $2 million in cash during the searches.
Vacchiano, Martin, Rosenvinge, and Mabey were allegedly scheming with others to produce marijuana at a property in Miranda, Calif. and then were having it shipped to various addresses in New Jersey and New York, according to the U.S. attorney’s office. The parcels (each containing about 17 to 20 pounds of marijuana) were allegedly collected from those addresses and transported to Vacchiano’s residence in Weehawken. The drugs were allegedly distributed out of Vacchiano’s garage.
Cash from the marijuana sales was allegedly sent in parcels back across the country to addresses in California as payment for the work others contributed and to finance additional marijuana production, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.
According to Fishman, each of the four defendants is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
If convicted, the maximum penalty for the drug offense in 40 years in prison and a fine of $2 million, or twice the gross gain resulting from the offense.
The maximum penalty for the money laundering offense is 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of twice the gross gain.