BY KEITH LACEY
A man with a lengthy criminal record is facing another long jail sentence early in the new year after pleading guilty last week to running a large-scale grow operation out of his residence.
Sean Moro, 35, pleaded guilty to production of a controlled substance and possession for the purpose of trafficking after Greater Sudbury Police raided his residence on April 16, 2004 and discovered a large grow operation involving marijuana and resin.
Justice Louise Gauthier of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice ordered a pre-sentence report be prepared before a sentencing hearing for Moro is held on Feb. 28.
Moro will remain free under strict bail conditions until the sentencing hearing.
Federal Crown prosecutor Robert Topp read in a summary of evidence against Moro during court proceedings Monday.
Greater Sudbury Police obtained a search warrant after gaining information from a confidential informant about a grow operation at a Garson residence, said Topp.
Police had obtained a search warrant and had started searching Moro?s residence when Moro approached officers and told them ?to take their time but they wouldn?t find anything...well, they took their time and they found a lot,? said Topp.
Inside the home and garage, the search uncovered more than 1,100 grams of marijuana bud with an estimated street value of over $11,000, said Topp.
Also found was a huge amount of marijuana stock being soaked in alcohol inside large jugs. As part of the process, the alcohol releases THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, then alcohol is siphoned away leaving resin, said Topp.
The estimated street value of the resin seized was in the neighbourhood of $30,000. Also recovered were such items commonly used in producing marijuana and resin, including funnels and strainers, potting soil, razor blades, a spatula, and an empty case of vials, said Topp. They also seized rolling papers, ziplock baggies, lighting equipment and powerful light bulbs.
Police also found a manual with information on how to make money from trafficking narcotics, said Topp.
All charges laid against a female acquaintance of Moro?s were dropped.
