BCPO: OWNERS AND OPERATORS OF DIRTY JERZY SUPPLIES LLC CHARGED WITH DRUG OFFENSES

Press release from the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office:

Maureen Parenta

2022-02-06

For Immediate Release:

February 6, 2022

Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced the arrests of MICHAEL LIGUS (DOB: 10/1/97; single; owner of DIRTY JERZY SUPPLIES LLC) of 92 Valley Road, Ringwood, NJ; DAMIAN WESLER SR. (DOB: 1/2/78; single; owner of DIRTY JERZY SUPPLIES LLC) of 45 Bentley Road, Franklin Lakes, NJ; DAMIAN WESLER JR. (DOB: 07/16/99; single; operator of DIRTY JERZY SUPPLIES LLC) of 9 Maria Court, Ringwood, NJ; ANTHONY GARCIA (DOB: 12/27/77; single; unemployed) of 772 First Street, Secaucus, NJ; and EZEKIEL PAULINO (DOB: 4/17/96; single; store clerk) of 70 Daniel Avenue, Rutherford, NJ on drug offenses. The arrests are the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Jason Love.

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, NJ, was operating as an illegal marijuana dispensary selling recreational marijuana and various THC products to the public. Additionally, detectives learned that MICHAEL LIGUS, DAMIAN WESLER SR., DAMIAN WESLER JR., and ANTHONY GARCIA were reporting themselves to be the owners and operators of the business and that EZEKIEL 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, NJ.

On February 4, 2022, MICHAEL LIGUS and DAMIAN 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.

Also on February 4, 2022, detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, with the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, the Essex County Prosecutor’s office, the Ringwood Police Department, and the Scotch Plains Police Department, executed court-authorized search warrant at store front 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 NJ; the residences of MICHAEL LIGUS, DAMIAN WESLER SR., DAMIAN WESLER JR., and ANTHONY 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, MICHAEL LIGUS, DAMIAN WESLER SR., DAMIAN WESLER JR., ANTHONY GARCIA, and EZEKIEL PAULINO were all arrested without incident.

MICHAEL LIGUS was charged with first-degree possession of marijuana over 25 pounds with intent to distribute, N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(10)(a); second-degree money laundering in an amount greater than $75,000 but less than $500,000, N.J.S.A. 2C:21-25a; second-degree conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2a(1)/2C:35-5b(10)(a); and second-degree conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute hashish oil edibles, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2a(1)/2C:35-5b(10)(a). He was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending his first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack, NJ.

DAMIAN WESLER SR. was charged with first-degree possession of marijuana over 25 pounds with intent to distribute, N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(10)(a); second-degree conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2a(1)/2C:35-5b(10)(a); and second-degree conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute hashish oil edibles, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2a(1)/2C:35-5b(10)(a). He was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending his first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack, NJ.

DAMIAN WESLER JR. was charged with second-degree conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2a(1)/2C:35-5b(10)(a); and second-degree conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute hashish oil edibles, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2a(1)/2C:35-5b(10)(a). He was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending his first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack, NJ.

ANTHONY GARCIA was charged with second-degree conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2a(1)/2C:35-5b(10)(a); and second-degree conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute hashish oil edibles, N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2a(1)/2C:35-5b(10)(a). He was remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending his first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack, NJ.

EZEKIEL PAULINO was charged with first-degree possession of hashish oil edibles over 5 pounds with intent to distribute, N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5b(10)(a). He was issued a Summons and released.

Prosecutor Musella states that the charges are merely accusations and that the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and he would like to thank the Drug Enforcement Administration, Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office, Union County Prosecutor’s Office, Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, Englewood Police Department, Ringwood Police Department, and Scotch Plains Police Department for their assistance in this investigation.

This press release was produced by the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office. The views expressed here are the author’s own.