Staten Island man charged with conspiracy in a Canada-U.S. pot-smuggling scheme
By Frank Donnelly/Staten Island Advance
January 11, 2013
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- He goes by the names "John V," "John from Staten Island" and "Big Man" -- and "big" could also describe the volume of marijuana prosecutors allege John Venizelos and accomplices smuggled into the country through Canada.
Over the course of 10 years, between January 2002 and February 2012, the suspects moved more than a ton of pot through a Native American reservation on the New York border, allege authorities.
Although not the main player in the scheme, Venizelos, 33, was active locally, authorities say.
Between January 2007 and February 2011, the Grasmere resident supplied five to 10 pounds of marijuana a month to a cooperating witness, said court documents. The pot's street value ranged from $1,500 to $4,000 per pound, said court records.
Venizelos was among six defendants, most of whom are Canadians, charged in the case.
Venizelos is accused of conspiracy to import marijuana, use of firearms and money-laundering conspiracy, said a spokesman for Loretta E. Lynch, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York.
He has denied guilt and is free on $1.5 million bond.
"He intends to fight the case at this time," said his lawyer, John C. Meringolo of Manhattan.
Court papers don't specify how the pot was brought into the country.
However, contraband is often concealed in secret compartments in vehicles entering the U.S. from Canada. The drugs can also be smuggled on boats and even in private jets.
Several other Islanders have been charged in similar schemes over the years.
Authorities gleaned significant information about Venizelos' Staten Island operation through an informant.
The witness, who has an "extensive" criminal history, is cooperating with authorities in the hope of getting a lighter sentence in a weapon case, said court papers.
The informant said he bought five to 10 pounds of pot a month from Venizelos for four years, said court documents.
On one occasion in February 2011, the informant allegedly stashed marijuana purchased from the suspect in a friend's Eltingville home. Federal agents raided the residence six weeks later and recovered 7.7 pounds of pot under the sink, court records state.
Afterward, the witness and Venizelos met, and in a tape-recorded conversation, Venizelos said, "Now, we have to watch it, though," said court papers.
In a subsequent meeting, the witness repaid Venizelos with $1,000 in cash provided by authorities, court documents state. The two are heard on tape discussing a payment plan.
"Thanks for meeting me. I don't want to talk on the phone," court documents quote Venizelos as saying. "Hopefully, we can get the stash back and all that."
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