Internal Revenue Service agents raided several houses in Suffolk County Wednesday as part of an investigation into an alleged multi-million dollar marijuana distribution ring.
IRS officials believe Robert Dillon, his girlfriend Alicia Peterman and another man, Anthony Pettigrew, were growing more than 2,000 indoor marijuana plants at as many as five warehouses in Suffolk.
The trio, with Dillon as its suspected ringleader, is said to have taken in more than $5 million. One informant told investigators that the group was "living large," the IRS said.
Dillon, Peterman and Pettigrew were previously brought in for the drug charges. Wednesday's raids focused on the financial roots of the operation, the IRS said. Officials said additional drug evidence was also found during the home searches.
Bail was not set for Dillon and Pettigrew, who each face life in prison. Peterman faces 20 years in prison and was released on $250,000 bail.