Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrests of Michael Ligus, 24, of Ringwood; Damian Wesler Sr., 44 of Franklin Lakes, Damian Wesler Jr., 22, of Ringwood; Anthony Garcia, 44, of Secaucus; and Ezekiel Paulino, 25, of Rutherford, on drug offenses.
According to Prosecutor Musella, in August 2021, an investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotic Task Force revealed that a business named Dirty Jerzy Supplies LLC, located at 376 Route 4 West, Englewood, was operating as an illegal marijuana dispensary selling recreational marijuana and various THC products to the public.
Prosecutor Musella said that, additionally, detectives learned that Ligus, Wesler Sr., Wesler Jr., and Garcia were reporting themselves to be the owners and operators of the business and that Paulino was an employee of the illegal dispensary.
During the investigation, undercover detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotic Task Force purchased marijuana and other THC products from the Englewood location, in addition to Dirty Jerzy Supplies LLC locations in Butler, Randolph, and Scotch Plains.
According to Prosecutor Musella, on February 4, Ligus and Wesler Sr. were transporting bulk shipments of marijuana from Boston, MA, to Bergen County.
Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office detectives executed a court-authorized search warrant on a gray Cadillac Escalade SUV operated by LIGUS and Wesler Sr., from which they seized more than fifty pounds of marijuana.
According to Prosecutor Musella, also on February 4, 2022, detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, with other law enforcement, executed court-authorized search warrants at storefront locations operated by Dirty Jerzy Supplies LLC in Butler, Randolph, and Scotch Plains; in addition to a warehouse operated by Dirty Jerzy Supplies LLC at 26 Commerce Road, Fairfield the residences of Ligus, Wesler Sr., Wesler Jr., and Garcia; and multiple vehicles associated with this drug distribution investigation.
These searches led to the seizure of hundreds of pounds of marijuana, THC edibles, THC wax/oil, and approximately $305,000.
Pursuant to the investigation, Ligus, Wesler Sr., Wesler Jr., Garcia, and Paulino were all arrested without incident.
According to Prosecutor Musella, they were charged as follows:
Ligus, Wesler Sr, Wesler Jr. and Garcia were all charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute hashish oil edibles.
Ligus and Wesler Sr were charged with possession of marijuana over 25 pounds with intent to distribute, and Ligus was charged with money laundering in an amount greater than $75,000 but less than $500,000.
Additionally, Paulino was charged with possession of hashish oil edibles over 5 pounds with intent to distribute.
Ligus, Wesler Sr, Wesler Jr. and Garcia were all remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending their first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack. Paulino was issued a Summons and released.