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A jury convicted a city firefighter Wednesday of running a massive marijuana farm in the basement of a house in Queens owned by a fellow Bravest.
"I'm in shock," Patrick Murray told his lawyer after the verdict came in last night three hours into deliberations.
Murray, a reputed member of a drug gang called "The Master Race," faces a minimum of five years in prison on the drug charges.
He also was convicted of endangering three children who lived above the hydroponic pot setup and were exposed to carbon dioxide gas and fertilizer fumes used in the growing process.
Federal Judge John Gleeson, who had barred prosecutors from mentioning Murray's reputed gang affiliation, immediately revoked the firefighter's $250,000 bail and blasted him for arrogantly lying on the witness stand.
"He [Murray] has a constitutional right to take the stand, but not commit perjury the way he did," Gleeson said.
Murray, who denied he was involved in the drug trade, was sunk by the testimony of co-defendant and Engine 292 colleague Matthew Cody, who cut a cooperation agreement with prosecutors this month.
Cody, who was not taking in enough rent money to cover the mortgage for the house, said Murray suggested growing pot in the basement to make up for the shortfall.
Acting on a tip, NYPD officers found more than 100 marijuana plants worth about $5,000.
"We're incredibly disappointed, and we will file an appeal," said defense lawyer Lee Ginsberg.
Cody and Murray earn $90,000 a year as firefighters and are still on the FDNY payroll.
NewsHawk: MedicalNeed: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: New York News, Traffic, Sports, Weather, Photos, Entertainment, and Gossip - NY Daily News
Author: John Marzulli
Contact: Services - NY Daily News
Copyright: 2010 NYDailyNews.com
Website:City firefighter Patrick Murray convicted of running massive marijuana farm
"I'm in shock," Patrick Murray told his lawyer after the verdict came in last night three hours into deliberations.
Murray, a reputed member of a drug gang called "The Master Race," faces a minimum of five years in prison on the drug charges.
He also was convicted of endangering three children who lived above the hydroponic pot setup and were exposed to carbon dioxide gas and fertilizer fumes used in the growing process.
Federal Judge John Gleeson, who had barred prosecutors from mentioning Murray's reputed gang affiliation, immediately revoked the firefighter's $250,000 bail and blasted him for arrogantly lying on the witness stand.
"He [Murray] has a constitutional right to take the stand, but not commit perjury the way he did," Gleeson said.
Murray, who denied he was involved in the drug trade, was sunk by the testimony of co-defendant and Engine 292 colleague Matthew Cody, who cut a cooperation agreement with prosecutors this month.
Cody, who was not taking in enough rent money to cover the mortgage for the house, said Murray suggested growing pot in the basement to make up for the shortfall.
Acting on a tip, NYPD officers found more than 100 marijuana plants worth about $5,000.
"We're incredibly disappointed, and we will file an appeal," said defense lawyer Lee Ginsberg.
Cody and Murray earn $90,000 a year as firefighters and are still on the FDNY payroll.
NewsHawk: MedicalNeed: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: New York News, Traffic, Sports, Weather, Photos, Entertainment, and Gossip - NY Daily News
Author: John Marzulli
Contact: Services - NY Daily News
Copyright: 2010 NYDailyNews.com
Website:City firefighter Patrick Murray convicted of running massive marijuana farm
