“A HOUSE THAT WENT TO POT”

            On March 28, 2007, Detective Gary Reyzmek, along with fellow officers from the Egg Harbor Township Police Department, executed a search warrant at a residence located on Jeffers Landing Road. The search warrant execution culminated their investigation into the marijuana growing operation conducted by Jonathan Sands and Erin McGee, the residents of the home.
            Inside the residence, detectives discovered an elaborate marijuana growing operation that included more than 500 living plants, dozens of bags of dried marijuana and manufacturing/ packaging materials. The estimated street value of the marijuana was approximately $1.1 million dollars.
            Within the spacious two-story wooden home, Sands had two rooms dedicated to growing hundreds of marijuana plants. More than $5,000 in equipment provided the lighting and other necessary conditions for growing the plants.
            The attic housed some of the plants, but things got fancier in the basement, where there was a hidden room with even more pot. that was blocked off and there were two sort of trap-door entries.
            Four cars were seized from the property, three Mercedes Benzes and a Lexus, along with $7,000 in cash.
            Sands and his live-in girlfriend, Erin McGee, have been charged with possession of more than five pounds of a controlled dangerous substance and possession with intent to distribute.
            The NJNEOA commends Detective Gary Reyzmek, along with the officers from the Egg Harbor Police Department and the other police agencies that participated in the investigation.