Pubdate: Wed, 13 Feb 2013
Source: Mississauga News (CN ON)
Copyright: The Mississauga News 2013
Contact:  http://www.mississauganews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/268
Author: Louie Rosella

GARDEN SUPPLY STORE OWNER FACING JAIL TIME

The owner of an east Mississauga garden supply store who sold
equipment from his business to produce multiple marijuana labs in
Ontario and Quebec valued at more than $10 million, will have to wait
until April to find out whether he's going to jail.

Tan Tien Nguyen, 42, of Mississauga, was found guilty last month of
conspiracy to aid and abet the possession of marijuana for the purpose
of trafficking, aiding and abetting the production of marijuana, and
aiding and abetting possession of marijuana for the purpose of
trafficking.

Nguyen's sentencing is scheduled for April 9. Under the Criminal Code,
Nguyen faces a maximum 10 years in jail.

Superior Court Justice Leonard Ricchetti determined there was
"overwhelming evidence" that Nguyen knew the products he was selling
from All Seasons Garden Supply, a hydroponics and garden supply store
at 1000 Dundas St. E., were being used to produce and sell marijuana.

Describing Nguyen's testimony as "very evasive and inconsistent," the
judge said "at many times throughout the testimony of Mr. Nguyen, he
would change his evidence to whatever he thought would serve him best."

Nguyen denied he sold marijuana grow operation products.

"Mr. Nguyen went to great lengths to deny this allegation. However, it
is clear that much of what he sold was clearly focused and solely for
marijuana growing operations," Ricchetti said.

The Asian Organized Crime Task Force, which includes Peel Regional
Police officers and officers from other police forces, concluded a
four-month investigation with the arrest of Nguyen and others on Oct.
7, 2009.

Police did surveillance on the business, noting the products were
being sold in a "secretive and clandestine" fashion, with trucks
driving right up to the front doors to block an outsider's view. They
also observed products being sold in black garbage bags, cash-only
sales "which would not generate a paper trail to customers," and "only
very limited or no business and employee records" being kept.

The judge also ruled there were countless products, including
electrical wiring and HVAC ductwork, being sold from the store that
normally wouldn't be found at a "garden supply" business.

"The only conclusion to be drawn =C2=85 is the existence of a conspiracy 
to
supply marijuana grow operations in a clandestine, no-names basis,
no-questions-asked basis, to provide delivery assistance where needed
without the need to disclose the identity of the customer or the
location of the marijuana grow operation and to assist in marijuana
grow operation waste disposal," the judge said. "It is clear that the
amount of products sold by Mr. Nguyen to the marijuana grow operators
was significant and not for the purpose of growing a small number of
marijuana plants, but rather large marijuana grow operations involving
the production of large quantities of marijuana."

The investigation, dubbed Project Mo Neo, extended throughout Ontario
and Quebec, resulting in four large marijuana grow operations being
dismantled in Waterloo, St. Catharines, Brampton, Toronto and
Montreal, police said.

The investigation culminated with the seizure of about 10,400
marijuana plants with an estimated street value of $10 million and the
arrest of seven other people, at least three of whom have been convicted.

Police also seized items from Nguyen's luxury home near Mavis Rd. and
The Queensway, including six unopened bottles of liquor valued at
$2,400 each, three Rolex watches, large screen televisions, expensive
stereo equipment, two motorcycles, a $43,000 diamond ring and a Sea
Doo.
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