Pot House Bust A Shocker In Bayside

The perfectly-manicured lawn and gorgeous exterior of the home at the corner of 213th Street and 56th Avenue in Bayside belie what went on behind closed doors.
In a search of the home executed by federal agents last week, it was revealed that the owner of the home, Michael Lezamiz, 34, an engineer at a Manhattan hotel, allegedly had a secret basement room in which he grew pot.
Authorities say that the lab was specially lined with Mylar wall panels and had the capacity to grow at least 50 marijuana plants. It was also retrofitted with an exhaust fan in order to eliminate the pungent odor of pot.
“I was stunned,” said neighbor Kevin Gernon. “There was no indication of wrongdoing.”
In this close-knit neighborhood, Lezamiz’s activities — which took place less than 500 feet from St. Robert Bellarmine School — were not only illegal, they were shocking.
“It’s a troubling sign because it points out that precincts across the city are understaffed,” said Patrick Lynch, President of the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association (PBA), who also lives in the area. “Years ago, police officers not only responded to crime, they were proactive. Without that police presence, drug trades happen and our children are placed at risk. My own children go to St. Robert Bellarmine. We need the police to supplement our eyes and ears to look after our children.”
Lezamiz was so inconspicuous in his activities that practically no one knew until the bust what was going on inside the home.
In fact, according to one neighbor, a retired narcotics agent lived directly across the street from Lezamiz. However, The Queens Courier was unable to verify this, as no one answered the door on repeated attempts at the house in question.
But it seems that most everyone in the neighborhood had begun questioning Lezamiz’s financial status.
“Everyone was trying to figure out what he was doing,” said Gernon. “He definitely spent a lot of money on his house.”
It was discovered that Lezamis was part of a marijuana ring that spanned Brooklyn and Queens and was allegedly associated with the Gambino crime family, according to police. Run by Peter (Bud) Zuccaro, in eight years, the ring grossed more than $12 million.
In last week’s bust, five men, including Lezamis, were arrested and charged. As of Tuesday, Lezamis was free on $5 million bail.
According to neighbors, his wife, Viviana, and their child still reside in the home, but The Queens Courier received no response at the house.
“Ever since the incident they keep the blinds and doors shut,” said Gernon.
toni@queenscourier.com