Nassau police: Traffic stop leads police to business owner’s drugs, firearms

<p>Nassau police seized tens of thousands of dollars in drugs, cash and firearms in a drug bust Wednesday in an investigation that followed a traffic stop on Route 107 in Hicksville.&nbsp;</p>

News 12 Staff

Dec 6, 2017, 10:43 PM

Updated 2,339 days ago

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Nassau police seized tens of thousands of dollars in drugs, cash and firearms in a drug bust Wednesday in an investigation that followed a traffic stop on Route 107 in Hicksville.
Authorities say officers stopped Jason Depietto for allegedly driving over the double yellow lines. Police say they smelled marijuana in his car and saw drug paraphernalia.
After they searched his car, they questioned him and searched the Massapequa home he shares with his parents. They also searched a business he owns called Hemp Smarts, where they say they found LSD, marijuana, marijuana-based wax, hallucinogenic mushrooms, pills and other drugs. 
In addition to the drugs, they say they found a bulletproof vest, an expandable baton, an unregistered AR-15 with four high-capacity magazines and other firearms.
Depietto's mother tells News 12 that she was away at the time of the raid and knew nothing about the incident.
"He's really sweet, a real nice guy," says Michelle Randazzo, a neighbor of the Depiettos. "They're awesome neighbors. I would never have even guessed for a second."
Nassau Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder says the bust will keep drugs out of teens' hands.
"We have to engage with these kids with the vape pipes," Ryder says. "They're onto the liquid marijuana, next you're doing pills, and you're onto heroin. And once you're in, you ain't getting out of the heroin game."
Depietto faces numerous charges of criminal possession of a controlled substance and criminal possession of a weapon. He's scheduled for arraignment on Wednesday.


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