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sonoramo
Contaminant



Registered: 02/27/19
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Last seen: 2 days, 45 minutes
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[CT] Burlington man arrested for growing $8.5 million worth of shrooms 3
#28527908 - 11/03/23 01:03 PM (2 months, 23 days ago) |
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Burlington man arrested for growing $8.5 million worth of shroomsBy Rob Polansky Published: Nov. 3, 2023 by WFSB Eyewitness News [Note: follow the above link to check out the very impressive photos of his grow operation.]BURLINGTON, CT (WFSB) - A man from Burlington faces drug factory charges after detectives found he had been growing a significant amount of narcotic mushrooms. Weston Soule, 21, was charged with possession with intent to sell narcotics and operating of a drug factory. State police said members of the DEA Hartford Task force and state police detectives received a tip that suggested Soule was operating a clandestine psilocybin mushroom growing operation at a home on Lyon Road. They arrived at Soule’s home on Thursday around 9 a.m. When they got there, detectives said they made contact with Soule and saw ventilation equipment throughout the residence consistent with those used in clandestine laboratories. Soule accompanied investigators to a detached garage on the property where detectives spotted a large mushroom growing operation. During interactions with investigators, Soule claimed that the type of mushrooms he was growing were not illegal. When asked about activities inside of the main residence, Soule did not consent to a search of the residence. Detectives then submitted a search warrant to New Britain Superior Court, which was granted. Upon serving the search warrant at Soule’s residence, investigators said they found a clandestine mushroom-growing factory within. It contained psilocybin mushrooms in various stages of growth, with an estimated total street value of $8.5 million. Soule admitted to investigators that the mushrooms were in fact psilocybin, which is labeled as a “schedule 1″ controlled substance. State police said a schedule 1 controlled substance is defined as drugs, substances and chemicals that are not currently accepted for medical use and have a high potential for abuse. Based upon the information obtained during the investigation, Soule was taken into custody at the scene and transported to state police headquarters in Litchfield where he was processed and charged. Soule was held on a $250,000 cash/surety bond and was scheduled for arraignment at New Britain Superior Court on Friday.
Edited by sonoramo (11/03/23 07:14 PM)
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Psicomb


Registered: 01/13/18
Posts: 4,633
Loc: the womb
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Re: [VT] Burlington man arrested for growing $8.5 million worth of shrooms [Re: sonoramo]
#28528200 - 11/03/23 05:27 PM (2 months, 23 days ago) |
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Oof. Well that sucks!
This was CT by the way, not Vermont.
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When we constantly pull things apart trying to see how it works, we may end up with only an understanding of how to destroy something - nick sand
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veggie

Registered: 07/25/04
Posts: 17,501
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Re: [CT] Burlington man arrested for growing $8.5 million worth of shrooms [Re: sonoramo]
#28528229 - 11/03/23 05:44 PM (2 months, 23 days ago) |
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Video from NYPost showing massive grow operation
No idea how the cops arrived at the $8.5 million amount, most likely inflated as usual. But regardless, that is quite a grow operation, the largest I have seen.
Hopefully he put aside some cash for a good lawyer.
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sonoramo
Contaminant



Registered: 02/27/19
Posts: 851
Loc: California, baby!
Last seen: 2 days, 45 minutes
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Re: [VT] Burlington man arrested for growing $8.5 million worth of shrooms [Re: Psicomb]
#28528336 - 11/03/23 07:15 PM (2 months, 23 days ago) |
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Quote:
Psicomb said: This was CT by the way, not Vermont.
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Psicomb


Registered: 01/13/18
Posts: 4,633
Loc: the womb
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Re: [VT] Burlington man arrested for growing $8.5 million worth of shrooms [Re: sonoramo]
#28528356 - 11/03/23 07:34 PM (2 months, 23 days ago) |
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Quote:
sonoramo said:
Quote:
Psicomb said: This was CT by the way, not Vermont.

Lmao. Shame cube 4 you!!!
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When we constantly pull things apart trying to see how it works, we may end up with only an understanding of how to destroy something - nick sand
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WyoMX

Registered: 07/06/15
Posts: 2,099
Loc: PNW
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Re: [CT] Burlington man arrested for growing $8.5 million worth of shrooms [Re: veggie] 1
#28528586 - 11/04/23 01:35 AM (2 months, 22 days ago) |
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Quote:
veggie said: Video from NYPost showing massive grow operation
No idea how the cops arrived at the $8.5 million amount, most likely inflated as usual. But regardless, that is quite a grow operation, the largest I have seen.
Hopefully he put aside some cash for a good lawyer.
Definitely a huge grow! I'm betting they weighed every bag full of substrate, calling everything drugs and are saying it's worth 10 or 15 a gram all the way up or something. When I got in trouble I learned most states weigh the container the drugs are in as part of the weight. Pretty dumb but is what it is I guess.
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sonoramo
Contaminant



Registered: 02/27/19
Posts: 851
Loc: California, baby!
Last seen: 2 days, 45 minutes
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Re: [VT] Burlington man arrested for growing $8.5 million worth of shrooms [Re: Psicomb]
#28528787 - 11/04/23 09:22 AM (2 months, 22 days ago) |
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Quote:
Psicomb said: Lmao. Shame cube 4 you!!! 
I'm in California. When I first saw the pics, I read it as "Burlingame." Couldn't figure out where that huge spread was. 
Still wondering where that $8.5M came from. The bags laid out look like 13 across, 15 deep, maybe 2.5 squares. That would be 488 bags. The racks show 12 bags per shelf, 5 shelves, maybe 7 racks. That would be 420 bags, and I assume they are the same bags laid out later. How much could each bag produce? Maybe 100 grams dry? So we have about 49kg of dried mushrooms if all the bags were grown out and harvested.
Maybe the black garbage bags contain another 50kg of dried mushrooms, getting ready for distribution? Suppose he has 100kg total. That means the cops are ready to pay $8.5M for 100kg, or $85/g.
Also, how does one guy manage 487 grows in bags at a time?
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vandago


Registered: 07/07/04
Posts: 20,917
Loc: .
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Re: [CT] Burlington man arrested for growing $8.5 million worth of shrooms [Re: WyoMX]
#28528821 - 11/04/23 09:54 AM (2 months, 22 days ago) |
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Quote:
WyoMX said:
Quote:
veggie said: Video from NYPost showing massive grow operation
No idea how the cops arrived at the $8.5 million amount, most likely inflated as usual. But regardless, that is quite a grow operation, the largest I have seen.
Hopefully he put aside some cash for a good lawyer.
Definitely a huge grow! I'm betting they weighed every bag full of substrate, calling everything drugs and are saying it's worth 10 or 15 a gram all the way up or something. When I got in trouble I learned most states weigh the container the drugs are in as part of the weight. Pretty dumb but is what it is I guess.
They sure do. Mushroom chocolates also get weighed and you get charged for the chocolate.
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durian_2008
Cornucopian Eating an Elephant



Registered: 04/02/08
Posts: 16,666
Loc: Raccoon City
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Re: [CT] Burlington man arrested for growing $8.5 million worth of shrooms [Re: sonoramo]
#28529267 - 11/04/23 04:02 PM (2 months, 22 days ago) |
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In some parts of the internet, fungi are grown as oddities, like tropical fish and designer plants. I had to look up the names of obscure species being grown by mycology enthusiasts.
Quote:
substances and chemicals that are not currently accepted for medical use and have a high potential for abuse.
Just saying it as an exercise in moral ambiguity. Just hypothetically speaking. They could have been from some toxic specie and still considered ethical, for legal purposes.
Suspect is being punished for cognitive liberty and alt medical practice.
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ezwider
Mushroom Enthusiast



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Re: [CT] Burlington man arrested for growing $8.5 million worth of shrooms [Re: durian_2008] 1
#28530732 - 11/05/23 02:50 PM (2 months, 21 days ago) |
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That's a huge bummer. All that money why on Earth would you grow in CT?
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Psicomb


Registered: 01/13/18
Posts: 4,633
Loc: the womb
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Re: [CT] Burlington man arrested for growing $8.5 million worth of shrooms [Re: ezwider]
#28530758 - 11/05/23 03:20 PM (2 months, 21 days ago) |
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Quote:
ezwider said: That's a huge bummer. All that money why on Earth would you grow in CT?
Proximity to NYC is my guess
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When we constantly pull things apart trying to see how it works, we may end up with only an understanding of how to destroy something - nick sand
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sonoramo
Contaminant



Registered: 02/27/19
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Last seen: 2 days, 45 minutes
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Re: [CT] Burlington man arrested for growing $8.5 million worth of shrooms [Re: ezwider] 1
#28530761 - 11/05/23 03:22 PM (2 months, 21 days ago) |
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Quote:
ezwider said: That's a huge bummer. All that money why on Earth would you grow in CT?
Just to keep this clear: If you are referring to the $8.5M, it never existed. It's a number the cops invented to "prove" how big and important their drug bust is. As for the actual amount of money Mr. Soule would have collected from his customers and distributors, if he weren't busted and if he'd sold his entire harvest... I'd bet it would be less than 10th of that.
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jay.ach
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Re: [CT] Burlington man arrested for growing $8.5 million worth of shrooms [Re: sonoramo] 1
#28531109 - 11/05/23 07:56 PM (2 months, 21 days ago) |
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Quote:
As for the actual amount of money Mr. Soule would have collected from his customers and distributors, if he weren't busted and if he'd sold his entire harvest... I'd bet it would be less than 10th of that.
And probably substantially less. But still... gotta give props. That is a helluva a grow.
-------------------- “One's destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” - Henry Miller LAGM v. 2.023 LAGM2021
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Typerwritermonky
shboop a doop a doop


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Re: [CT] Burlington man arrested for growing $8.5 million worth of shrooms [Re: jay.ach]
#28531654 - 11/06/23 11:48 AM (2 months, 20 days ago) |
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Most people tend to get like an oz and a half out of each bag, if that. Two ounces is a good bag, and remember many fail.
Cops are saying that these mushrooms are worth around 100$ a gram in bulk value. Fucking looney tunes.
I still can't believe people who are breaking the law in that magnitude open the door to agents without a warrant displayed. Tell them your rights, and if they have a warrant to display it through the window, and if not go get one.
and in that next 24 hours, you better break down everything, take all the product elsewhere rambo style.
still, another bust by our government that restricts cognitive liberty, bodily autonomy, and alternative medicinal practices. going after young kids who are growing nature and selling soft drugs is so fucked when we have 100k+ people dying a year from opiates from the cartels.
the longer I see the American government, the more I think they are worse than Nazi's in many ways, with the main difference being that the American government hasn't engaged in a genocidal war within their own nation state. And I say this as a Jew whose ancestors lived in Central Europe.
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JFlowMan
Stranger

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Re: [CT] Burlington man arrested for growing $8.5 million worth of shrooms [Re: Typerwritermonky]
#28569614 - 12/05/23 09:52 AM (1 month, 22 days ago) |
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I just saw this come out and knew someone here would have posted it. They weighed every bag of sub, claimed it was bags of mushrooms, and calculated the street value for dried mushrooms. I have no idea what bulk street value is, but the guy is getting the shaft.
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dowodenum
Noob Pope



Registered: 08/05/19
Posts: 1,268
Loc: 🇨🇦
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Re: [CT] Burlington man arrested for growing $8.5 million worth of shrooms [Re: JFlowMan]
#28572246 - 12/06/23 11:54 PM (1 month, 20 days ago) |
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I know this is old news, but it's been rolling around in my mind...
Estimating:
8,500,000 (valued at $10/gram) is 850 kg of grain spawn. Assuming the authorities just weighed the offending matter and chalked it all up as illegal substance; as I've read before, they've done with MHRB customs seizures, cannabis brownies, shroom chocolates, etc.
Assuming (very optimistically) he got 100g from every kilo, that's only $850,000. Also, that's assuming he could actually move that much product. I wonder how much he actually sold, if any?
Still, $250k bond is, I guess, pretty lenient. I've heard of $75k bonds on simple acquisition charges.
Poor guy.
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redchigh
Mega n00b

Registered: 07/29/13
Posts: 53
Last seen: 10 days, 1 hour
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Re: [CT] Burlington man arrested for growing $8.5 million worth of shrooms [Re: dowodenum]
#28573138 - 12/07/23 05:13 PM (1 month, 20 days ago) |
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I wonder why the value estimate is so high?
Maybe theyre valuating mycelium and wet matter at dry value?
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JFlowMan
Stranger

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Re: [CT] Burlington man arrested for growing $8.5 million worth of shrooms [Re: redchigh] 1
#28574105 - 12/08/23 09:19 AM (1 month, 19 days ago) |
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They're weighing wet substrate bags and calculating dry street value.
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redchigh
Mega n00b

Registered: 07/29/13
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Re: [CT] Burlington man arrested for growing $8.5 million worth of shrooms [Re: JFlowMan]
#28581448 - 12/13/23 03:08 PM (1 month, 14 days ago) |
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I couldnt help but wonder if we had a member go missing the same day.
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stubb
Dahg Rastubfari


Registered: 03/23/19
Posts: 1,310
Loc: Memory
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Re: [CT] Burlington man arrested for growing $8.5 million worth of shrooms [Re: redchigh]
#28581471 - 12/13/23 03:34 PM (1 month, 14 days ago) |
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Meh, users go missing every day in any given active forum for any number of reasons. Maybe he only ever lurked the shroomery, but folks in some racing forum might be wondering if this guy wrecked his project vehicle because he suddenly stopped posting.
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🆃🄴🅰🄼 🅲🄻🅸🄽🅶🅆🆁🄰🅿 You wake up. The room is spinning very gently round your head. Or at least it would be if you could see it which you can't. It is pitch black. > TURN ON LIGHT
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