Otsego County Man Arrested for Hydroponic Marijuana Operation

A Worcester man was arrested Wednesday following a joint narcotics investigation by the Otsego County Sheriff's Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration's Albany Division,  with assistance from the Northeast Aviation Resident Office.

Police state that Richard Compitello had approximately six pounds of dried marijuana packaged in plastic bags inside his Decatur residence. Also said to be found in his residence were approximately ten grams of psilocybin mushrooms, a digital electronic scale, a blackjack, a dagger, $1,688, assorted fireworks, numerous loaded high-powered rifles and shotguns, and a video surveillance system of his property.

The sheriff's office says a separate building on Compitello's property had an active hydroponics grow with 17 marijuana plants, over a pound of loose marijuana, a loaded rifle, as well as chemicals and other items used in the cultivation and propagation of marijuana. The value of the marijuana seized was estimated at over $35,000.

Compitello was charged with 1st degree criminal possession of marijuana, 7th degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, 4th degree criminal possession of a weapon, and unlawfully growing cannabis by an unlicensed person.

Compitello is being held in the Otsego County Correctional Facility on $2,500 cash bail.