DA: Hamptons Chef Marco Barrila Was Part of Cross-Country Pot Pipeline

Renowned chef and Hamptons catering company owner Marco Barrila has been indicted for being part of a California-to-Long Island marijuana pipeline, Suffolk County District Attorney Spota said.

Barrila, of Hampton Bays, was arrested on June 17 and indicted by a grand jury on a felony fourth degree conspiracy charge on Monday, according to court records. He was released on his own recognizance and will be arraigned before State Supreme Court Justice John Collins on July 13 in Riverhead.

A dozen people in all have been indicted for their roles in bringing potent strains of marijuana grown on Northern California farms to Long Island to be sold on the street, Spota said.

According to Spota, Brian Poole, 27, of Bellport, was the ringleader of the operation and Eric Gomez, 29, of Calverton, was Poole’s chief reseller.

“During the course of this joint investigation, Poole arranged the monthly delivery of approximately 80 pounds of California marijuana to Suffolk County,” Spota said. His profits averaged from $500 to $800 per pound, depending on the strain of marijuana he chose to import to sell here.”

Authorities say Barrila, who owns Insatiable EATS and is also well known for his charitable work on the East End, was Poole’s “marijuana reseller” to an East End clientele.

Poole is a former employee of Barrila’s catering business, Spota said.