Pubdate: Sat, 24 Sep 2016
Source: Windsor Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2016 The Windsor Star
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/501
Author: Trevor Wilhelm
Page: A4

CRIME STOPPERS EXEC'S ARREST YIELDS $3M IN POT

Provincial police say a Leamington raid and the arrest this week of a
now-former Crime Stoppers president also yielded a marijuana seizure
worth more than $3 million.

Windsor & Essex County Crime Stoppers called an emergency meeting and
immediately ousted Jon-Paul Fuller after learning of his arrest. He
also used to work for Aphria, a licensed medical marijuana producer in
Leamington, but he was let go from that company more than two years
ago.

Fuller, 44, is charged with production of marijuana and possession of
marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.

"Shame on him if it's truly proven to come out in the court system,"
said Aphria Inc. president and CEO Vic Neufeld. "It's just illegal.
It's just not right."

The OPP raided a large property Wednesday at 1935 Fox Run Rd. There
are several lots on the property with houses and numerous greenhouse
facilities.

Police said they seized 2,900 marijuana plants between eight and 12
feet in height. The plants are worth $2.9 million, according to
investigators. Officers also seized about 91 pounds of harvested
marijuana worth $180,000.

A second suspect, Doc Van Phan, 53, of Leamington, faces the same
charges as Fuller.

Neufeld said Fuller was hired at Aphria in 2013 to help with the
registration and regulatory applications with Health Canada for
licensed producer status.

"I came on board in May of 2014, at which time we parted ways
immediately," said Neufeld. "He was just not going to be what we
needed going forward. We've lost touch since then and that was
twoand-a-half years ago. We have no idea where he went, what he was
doing."

According to his LinkedIn page, Fuller has been the president of "CAFR
Corp" since July 2015. The page describes CAFR as an operation that
assists medical marijuana patients. The LinkedIn page also states
Fuller is the CFO and co-owner of a cable, Internet and phone provider
called Cable One.

Neufeld said people at his company didn't know Fuller even had the Fox
Run Road property - which is only four or five miles from Aphria's
operation - let alone what he was using it for.

"I think he got a taste of the medical marijuana community and saw
what was happening the last two years, and unfortunately allegedly did
something that was illegal," said Neufeld. "But we've totally lost
touch with him. He's had no attachment to Aphria for two and a half
years."
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MAP posted-by: Matt