2 Illegal Weed Dispensaries Raided In Morris Co., Owners And Operators Charged: Prosecutor

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — Two Morris County smoke shops operated as illegal weed dispensaries, the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office announced Sunday. The owners and operators of Dirty Jerzy Supplies LLC face several charges for selling recreational cannabis and various THC products in shops around North Jersey, according to authorities.

Dirty Jerzy Supplies sold the products at stores in Butler and Randolph, along with Englewood (Bergen County) and Scotch Plains (Union County), according to the prosecutor's office.

New Jersey legalized adult use and possession of recreational cannabis last year. But the state has not yet distributed all available licenses for recreational marijuana sales or allowed dispensaries to distribute recreational weed.

The office's Narcotics Task Force discovered in August the Dirty Jerzy Supplies in Englewood operated as an illegal weed dispensary. During the investigation, undercover detectives purchased cannabis and other THC products from the business's Butler, Randolph and Scotch Plains locations, authorities said.

Dirty Jerzy Supplies owners Michael Ligus and Damian Wesler Sr. tried transporting bulk cannabis shipments from Boston to Bergen County on Friday, according to the prosecutor's office. The prosecutor's office executed a court-authorized search warrant on the SUV they occupied and seized more than 50 pounds of weed, authorities said.

Later that day, law enforcement executed search warrants at the Butler, Randolph and Scotch Plains stores, Dirty Jerzy Supplies' warehouse in Fairfield and several homes and vehicles associated with the drug-distribution investigation, according to officials. Police seized hundreds of pounds of cannabis, THC edicbles, THC wax and oil and about $305,000, the prosecutor's office said.

Ligus, 24, of Ringwood, was charged with first-degree possession of marijuana over 25 pounds with intent to distribute; second-degree money laundering in an amount greater than $75,000 but less than $500,000; second-degree conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana; and second-degree conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute hashish oil edibles.

Wesler, 44, of Franklin Lakes, was charged with first-degree possession of marijuana over 25 pounds with intent to distribute; second-degree conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana; and second-degree conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute hashish oil edibles.

Damian Wesler Jr. — a 22-year-old operator of the business and Ringwood resident — was charged with second-degree conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana; and second-degree conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute hashish oil edibles.

Anthony Garcia, 44, of Secaucus, was charged with second-degree conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana; and second-degree conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute hashish oil edibles.

All four were taken to the Bergen County Jail.

Ezekiel Paulino — a 25-year-old store clerk — was charged with first-degree possession of hashish oil edibles over 5 pounds with intent to distribute. The Rutherford resident was issued a summons and released.

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