A federal judge overseeing the Kobie Gary pot-growing case handed his attorneys a defeat by refusing to order the government to hand over materials they’ve said were needed to prepare for his April sentencing in Miami.

In his order, U.S. Magistrate Judge Frank Lynch Jr. ruled Gary’s lawyers had not shown proof the government had failed to provide all evidence he is legally entitled to, including the statements of co-defendants and witnesses, and copies of surveillance video. (more…)

By Will Greenlee

PORT ST. LUCIE — A suspicious incident involving panhandlers at Publix turned into a felony marijuana bust this week for Port St. Lucie police, according to recently released records. (more…)

PORT ST. LUCIE — A 35-year-old man faces several cocaine-related charges following a series of drug transactions with at least one informant late last month, according to affidavits released Monday.

Jerome Dexter Harriell was arrested Friday by St. Lucie County Sheriff’s investigators after they executed a search warrant at his home in the 1900 block of Southeast Aires Lane.
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MARTIN COUNTY — Three men were taken into custody after the Martin County Sheriff’s Office said it discovered a marijuana grow house in the 6800 block of Southwest Gaines Avenue Monday.

Carlos Don Bailey, 37, of the 4900 block of Bimini Circle, Palm City; Donald Sidney Dugan, 46, of the 1500 block of Southwest Ifflo Avenue, Port St. Lucie, and John Charles Costello, 37, of Palm Bay were charged with cultivation and trafficking of cannabis. Costello and Dugan were being held in lieu of $210,000 bail, and Bailey was being held in lieu of $105,000 bail.

Deputies said they found 123 marijuana plants in the home. They continue to investigate the operation, the Sheriff’s Office said.

Lamaur Stancil

FORT PIERCE — A Miami family that used fake documents to obtain nearly $6 million in mortgage loans used to buy homes converted into marijuana grow farms were ordered Thursday to serve more than five years in federal prison.

The sophisticated scheme, operated during the height of the housing boom, included buying 18 homes in St. Lucie, Miami-Dade, Lee and Columbia counties that were used to cultivate more than 1,000 pot plants worth about $1.3 million, federal records show. (more…)