Pot Growing Suspect Claimed He Was 'Business Consultant' On Tax Forms

He described himself as a business consultant on his tax forms, but a newly-released affadavit reveals that Watertown's Thomas “Gus" Bailey went to great lengths to hide his alleged marijuana operation.

The affidavit, filed in a federal court in Boston by Framingham Police Officer Matthew Gutwill who was working with Drug Enforcement Administration, reveals many more details about Bailey’s alleged growing operation.

Police arrested the trio in October and raided the warehouse.

The trio was scheduled to be in court on Wednesday, Jan. 25.

During the search, investigators found 1,063 marijuana plants, 198 kilograms of pot, $33,000 and marijuana cultivation equipment, according to the affidavit. 

According to the affidavit, tax forms found in Bailey’s home indicated his occupation as “business consultant.” Bailey, who served as Watertown District B Town Councilor from 2001-2005, declared $78,830 of taxable income in 2010, and similar amounts dating back to 2008. In 2007, he declared around $42,000.

Bailey also went to lengthy measures to hide his operation and had a business partner in the operation. Bailey’s girlfriend who also acted as his business partner, Mary Coman, told investigators that Bailey had been growing pot for the past 15 years, but at an unknown scale, according to the affidavit. Coman learned of the operation three years when she saw Bailey growing marijuana at an Allston location. Despite Coman’s statement, investigators determined Bailey was actually operating out of 64-67 Lincoln St. in Brighton, according to the affidavit. Electricity bills indicate large use of power consistent with growing pot, according to the affidavit.

Afterwards, Bailey gave Coman $80,000 to purchase the Waltham warehouse, which she deposited into bank accounts later used to purchase the property. Coman told investigators she knew the cash was proceeds from the growing operation because did not have a job, according to affidavit. Bailey tried to hide traces of the operation by spraying the cash with Lysol to cover the smell of marijuana, according to the affidavit. 

Coman spoke to investigators willingly but later ceased cooperation, according to the affidavit.

Coman also deposited proceeds into banks in Watertown, Waltham and other communities, but Bailey told her to never deposit more than $5,000 at once because otherwise that could trigger the suspicion. In addition to depositing cash in various accounts, Bailey hid approximately $500,000 in the walls of his Marshall Street, apparently to hide it from his wife, according to the affidavit. Bailey would also often transport money, hidden in boxes, to the Waltham warehouse where he would use the money counter, and later return the money to his home or Coman’s apartment in Brighton, according to the affidavit.

The pot proceeds were also used to purchase three vehicles, according to the affidavit. In 2005, Bailey bought a 2003 Mini Cooper and later bought a 2009 Honda Odyssey in 2009, according to the affidavit. Coman in 2010 used pot proceeds to purchase a 2006 Lexus SUV.