8 Arrested In 'Elaborate Marijuana Grow Operation': RI State Police

PROVIDENCE, RI — Rhode Island State Police said they arrested eight people caught conducting an "elaborate illegal marijuana grow operation."

State police said they seized more than 1,700 cannabis plants, 468 grams of psilocybin mushrooms, 11.1 grams of cocaine, and more. According to state police, the investigation began after an anonymous tip came in about drug activity in Lincoln, North Providence, North Scituate, Providence, Westerly, and Woonsocket.

State police said they began executing search warrants at various locations on Sept. 18 and seized the following:

• Four firearms
• One large-capacity feeding device
• 279.4 pounds of usable marijuana
• 922 mature marijuana plants
• 859 immature marijuana plants
• One pound of marijuana shatter
• 468 grams of psilocybin mushrooms
• 11.1 grams of cocaine
• 65 Oxycodone pills
• 30 amphetamine pills
• one motor vehicle
• two motorcycles
• $79,876 in cash.

The following eight people were arrested in connection to the drug busts:

• Kenneth LaFlamme, 46, of North Providence
• John Delauro, 52, of North Scituate
• David Mercier, 59, of Narragansett
• Juliet Gannon, 53, of Narragansett
• Kevin Gannon, 26, of Charlestown
• Marcus Wilcox, 31, of Woonsocket
• Anthony Ricci, 30, of Lincoln
• Michael Moreno, 41, of North Providence.

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