2 more federal indictments in Oakland MMJ bust

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/02/12/BAGD6B9VN61.DTL
OAKLAND
2 suspects are indicted in pot case

Henry K. Lee, SF Chronicle Staff Writer

Saturday, February 12, 2005

A federal grand jury has indicted two more
suspects in the cultivation of thousands of
marijuana plants at a West Oakland warehouse --
as well as a previously undisclosed building in
East Oakland.

Thomas Grossi Sr., 60, of Lafayette, the owner
of both properties, and Roy Lewis, 52, of Walnut
Creek, an alleged marijuana grower, were named in
a superseding indictment handed down Thursday in
Oakland.

Drug Enforcement Administration agents arrested
Grossi at his home at 7: 30 a.m. Friday. He
appeared in U.S. District Court in Oakland and
was released on $250,000 bond. Lewis, who could
not be reached for comment, is being sought on a
no-bail warrant.

Both men have reportedly had ties to Oakland
medical marijuana clubs. Supporters have decried
the federal prosecution of five other defendants
since the California Highway Patrol uncovered
thousands of marijuana plants during a June 30
raid of a warehouse at 2638 Market St. in West
Oakland.

Grossi's attorney, David M. Michael of San
Francisco, said Friday, "There's no evidence
whatsoever that my client had any knowledge or
was in any way involved with any illegal activity
at either location."

The amended indictment charges Grossi with
providing property for marijuana cultivation at
the Market Street address as well as at a
building at 2635 East 11th St. in East Oakland.
Federal prosecutors are also seeking the
forfeiture of money or property for both sites.

Lewis was indicted on charges of conspiracy and
three counts or growing marijuana at both sites
last year. Lewis helped set up the alarm system
on Market Street and rented $7,000 in equipment
from his construction company for the site,
Special Agent Adam Zirkelbach of the Drug
Enforcement Administration wrote in an affidavit.

Lewis told his employer that he "got into the
marijuana business because it is financially
lucrative," Zirkelbach wrote.

Three other suspects -- Jacek Mroz, 27, of
Oakland, Jesse Nieblas, 32, of Alameda, and Mario
Pacetti, 33, of Alameda -- have previously been
indicted on felony marijuana charges and pleaded
not guilty. The superseding indictment also
accused Pacetti of making the East Oakland
property available for marijuana growing.

Two other suspects, Celeste Angello, 28, of
Santa Clara and Heleno Dearaujo, 32, of Concord,
were charged in federal court with misdemeanor
marijuana charges. Angello has pleaded guilty.
The case against Dearaujo, allegedly hired by
Lewis to work at the West Oakland warehouse, has
been sealed.

E-mail Henry K. Lee at hlee [at] sfchronicle.com.

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