By Sophia Chang
Reputed Gambino family associate Peter Zuccaro, 49, of 149-30 88th St. in Howard Beach was the alleged ringleader of a large-scale hydroponic marijuana growing and dealing organization since 1997, according to a spokesman for U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Roslynn Mauskopf. Zuccaro's brother-in-law, Michael Lezamiz, who lived at 213-15 56th Ave. in Bayside Hills across the street from St. Robert Bellarmine School, had used his basement for the growth and cultivation of marijuana since 2004, officials said. The others charged were Joseph Iorio, 34, of 158-10 95th St. in Howard Beach, Harry Gabor of 85-45 89th St. in Woodhaven, and Leonard Palone, 39, of 2119 East 64th St. in Brooklyn.The five defendants have been charged with conspiring to traffic in more than 1,000 marijuana plants or 1,000 kilograms of marijuana within 1,000 feet of public and private grammar schools and money laundering, officials said. Lezamiz, Iorio, Gabor and Palone have all pleaded not guilty to the charges, and Lezamiz was released on $5 million bail. Zuccaro was being extradited to New York from Florida, where he was being held on an unrelated racketeering conviction and was scheduled to be charged soon. Zuccaro was previously arrested in Nassau County in 1997 on charges of the sale and possession of hydroponic marijuana, according to a Nassau County detective, and law enforcement records show that he was allegedly a member of the Gambino crime family and boasted of killing other people.The five defendants each face a sentence of 20 years to life if convicted. Two other locations in Brooklyn and upstate New York were also used to grow marijuana, amounting to what the Drug Enforcement Agency said was one of the largest marijuana-growing operations ever uncovered in the state. The Brooklyn marijuana farm location was also situated across the street from a school, officials said.In all, authorities seized one ton of marijuana and $3 million in drug proceeds and property from the locations, including around 160 plants weighing more than 2,600 pounds and nine jars of a rare and potent type of marijuana called “Keif,” the spokesman said. In addition, federal agents also seized nearly 50 pounds of marijuana buds worth more than $5,000 a pound, hashish, a truck and a speed boat, $50,000 in cash, and equipment used in the growth of marijuana, according to officials.”This brazen crew of drug dealers was growing thousands of pounds of marijuana, worth millions of dollars, in the shadow of two elementary schools,” Mauskopf said in a release.Neighbors in quiet Bayside Hills said they had seen nothing unusual and were beyond shocked at the news.”It's amazing, unexpected. We're all families here,” said one resident who declined to give her name. “Even if you were doing it, even if you showed me it, I would think it was a tomato plant.” Lezamiz had lived in his well-kept house with his wife and baby for a couple of years and would help clear the neighborhood's sidewalks of snow, his next-door neighbor said. “The fellow is a delight,” said the neighbor, who also declined to give her name. “He's a lovely guy, and the wife, she's a saint. They had a beautiful little boy and were the most delightful neighbors. They couldn't be nicer.”A former Howard Beach neighbor of Iorio reacted with similar surprise. When told of the allegations and asked if he had seen anything unusual at the Iorio residence, he replied with an expression wide-eyed with shock, then disbelief.”No way,” said the neighbor, also refusing to be named. “Not even if I see it with my own eyes would I believe that.”Reporter Scott Sieber contributed to this article.Reach reporter Sophia Chang by e-mail at news@timesledger.com, or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 146.
