SOMERS POINT — City resident John Garman, 38, was arrested May 25 following a joint narcotics investigation and charged with operating a non-licensed cannabis manufacturing and distribution operation from his home.
The investigation was conducted by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office’s Gangs, Guns & Narcotics Task Force, the Somers Point Police Department and the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force.
According to a news release from the Somers Point Police Department, law enforcement seized $119,526 in cash, about 65 pounds of marijuana, 32 pounds of THC gummy candy, 1.5 pounds of psilocybin mushrooms, 10 pounds of liquid THC cartridges and a half-pound of other THC-infused candy.
Garman was charged with distribution of marijuana, distribution of hashish, operating a CDS manufacturing facility (marijuana), operating a CDS manufacturing facility (hashish), endangering the welfare of a child, money laundering and fortifying a CDS manufacturing facility.
A Facebook page called Garman’s Goods, described as a “Somers Point cannabis delivery service,” had hosted a scavenger hunt for jars of marijuana as recently as March 17.
The post read: Happy St. Pattys Day! May the luck of the Irish be in your favor today, and if you’re by one of these locations, hopefully you’re lucky enough to find a little vacation! All seven 1/8’s are hidden in these areas. Good luck and enjoy! If ya can, leave us a comment that ya found it and at which location! “Let us show you how the locals take a vacation”
A post from May 27 links to a Go Fund Me page called Garman’s Don’t Give Up, apparently raising money for a legal fund.
“Hi, my name is Jessica Garman, sister to John Garman, and we are asking for your help. John and his family are in a very hard spot where they have lost everything. Everything, right down to their last dollar.
“John has done so many great things for his family, his friends, his community and to strangers he has never even met more than once. John would give the shirt off of his back for anyone in need and never ask for anything in return.
“As his sister, I am asking for you to please return the favor and help him and his family out in this horrible time. He has three handsome boys and a beautiful wife that are struggling to get by now and they need you. John needs you. Please, help in anyway you possibly can. Prayers and good thoughts are very much needed.
“Thank you so much for helping the man you know as “Garman” and all of the good he has brought your way. Our family can’t thank you enough.”
The site had raised $3,180 of the $20,000 goal as of May 30.
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff