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Soccer Mom Ran Massive Pot-Grow Operation
JUNE 4--A suburban mom--and budding equestrian--has for years maintained a secret life as the alleged head of a multimillion-dollar marijuana grow operation that was finally broken up last month when federal agents raided a New York City warehouse and discovered nearly 3,000 pot plants and state-of-the-art cultivation equipment, The Smoking Gun has learned.
Andrea Sanderlin, 45, was arrested two weeks ago outside a Queens building housing a sophisticated operation to grow and process marijuana, according to a Drug Enforcement Administration agent. During the May 20 raid, investigators seized about 2800 pot plants, large quantities of dried marijuana, and lighting, irrigation and ventilation systems.
Sanderlin was subsequently named in a criminal complaint charging her with narcotics trafficking, a felony carrying a minimum 10-year prison term. Since her arrest, Sanderlin--who allegedly ran her marijuana business through a front company called Fantastic Enterprises, Inc.--has been locked up at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.
The DEAs arrest of Sanderlin--an attractive, divorced mother of two girls (ages 3 and 13) who lives in Scarsdale, New York--will likely draw comparisons to the Showtime series Weeds, which starred Mary-Louise Parker as the sexy young matriarch of the hydroponic pot-distributing Botwin family.
Joel Winograd, Sanderlin's lawyer, described her as a full-time mother who had no criminal record and has never been in trouble before. Winograd added that he is seeking to work out a bail package for his client, who has pleaded not guilty to the trafficking charge.
When federal agents searched Sanderlin's home, they recovered about $6,000. in cash and books on money laundering and growing marijuana, according to a U.S. District Court filing. They also seized $7,900. from Sanderlin's nanny, who was trying to sneak the cash to Sanderlin's boyfriend (who is the father of her youngest daughter).
The raid on Sanderlins home came as a shock to neighbors not accustomed to the presence of armed federal agents in the leafy Westchester County village, which is among the countrys wealthiest communities.
Sanderlin, who leases her Saxon Woods Road residence--four bedrooms/five bathrooms/5438 square feet--is often seen behind the wheel of her Mercedes-Benz SUV (though she once had a Maserati coupe registered in her name).
DEA: Soccer Mom Ran Massive Pot Grow Operation | The Smoking Gun
JUNE 4--A suburban mom--and budding equestrian--has for years maintained a secret life as the alleged head of a multimillion-dollar marijuana grow operation that was finally broken up last month when federal agents raided a New York City warehouse and discovered nearly 3,000 pot plants and state-of-the-art cultivation equipment, The Smoking Gun has learned.
Andrea Sanderlin, 45, was arrested two weeks ago outside a Queens building housing a sophisticated operation to grow and process marijuana, according to a Drug Enforcement Administration agent. During the May 20 raid, investigators seized about 2800 pot plants, large quantities of dried marijuana, and lighting, irrigation and ventilation systems.
Sanderlin was subsequently named in a criminal complaint charging her with narcotics trafficking, a felony carrying a minimum 10-year prison term. Since her arrest, Sanderlin--who allegedly ran her marijuana business through a front company called Fantastic Enterprises, Inc.--has been locked up at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.
The DEAs arrest of Sanderlin--an attractive, divorced mother of two girls (ages 3 and 13) who lives in Scarsdale, New York--will likely draw comparisons to the Showtime series Weeds, which starred Mary-Louise Parker as the sexy young matriarch of the hydroponic pot-distributing Botwin family.
Joel Winograd, Sanderlin's lawyer, described her as a full-time mother who had no criminal record and has never been in trouble before. Winograd added that he is seeking to work out a bail package for his client, who has pleaded not guilty to the trafficking charge.
When federal agents searched Sanderlin's home, they recovered about $6,000. in cash and books on money laundering and growing marijuana, according to a U.S. District Court filing. They also seized $7,900. from Sanderlin's nanny, who was trying to sneak the cash to Sanderlin's boyfriend (who is the father of her youngest daughter).
The raid on Sanderlins home came as a shock to neighbors not accustomed to the presence of armed federal agents in the leafy Westchester County village, which is among the countrys wealthiest communities.
Sanderlin, who leases her Saxon Woods Road residence--four bedrooms/five bathrooms/5438 square feet--is often seen behind the wheel of her Mercedes-Benz SUV (though she once had a Maserati coupe registered in her name).
DEA: Soccer Mom Ran Massive Pot Grow Operation | The Smoking Gun
