For Immediate Release

Friday, March 18, 2016

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Hull Police Charge Husband and Wife With Large Marijuana Grow Operation

HULL — Acting Police Chief Robert C. Sawtelle reports that the Hull Police Department on Thursday executed a search warrant on a home, after an investigation into a large and sophisticated marijuana growing operation. As a result, a very large quantity of marijuana plants were found, as well as several firearms and ammunition. A man and his pregnant wife were arrested and face a long list of charges.

As a result, DAVID E. MAGLIO, AGE 35 and ERIKA ZERKEL, AGE 38, BOTH OF HULL, were arrested.

Because the Hull Police investigation strongly indicated that firearms would be present in the home, the MetroLEC SWAT Team was called, out of an abundance of caution, to assist in executing the search warrant. The warrant was executed without incident or injury to any parties.

Upon executing the warrant, police seized a handgun, a rifle, more than $5,000 in cash, more than 40 lbs. of processed marijuana and nearly 50 marijuana plants that were allegedly being cultivated by the pair.

MAGLIO has several prior drug convictions and faces several subsequent offender charges.

“This operation was the result of a tremendous investigative effort by Hull Police Detectives, working closely with our law enforcement partners from around the region and federally,” Chief Sawtelle said. “The male suspect in this case is a career criminal, well-known to police, who was armed and dangerous. All precautions were taken, and I am very proud that this investigation came to a conclusion without incident or injury to either the suspects or police officers involved.”

MAGLIO is charged with:

• Cultivating and Possessing a Class D Drug (Marijuana).
• Possession of a Class D Substance with Intent to Distribute (Marijuana)
• Reckless Endangerment of a Child (Fetus)
• Conspiracy to Violate the Drug Laws
• Possession of a Firearm without an FID Card (Subsequent Offense)
• Improper Storage of a Firearm
• Firearms Violation With Three Prior Drug Offenses
• Improper Storage of a Large Capacity Firearm
• Possession of a Large Capacity Rifle
• Possession of Ammunition without an FID (Two counts)
• Possession of a Large Capacity Feeding Device (Two Counts)

ZERKEL is charged with:

• Cultivating and Possessing a Class D Drug (Marijuana).
• Reckless Endangerment of a Child (Fetus)
• Conspiracy to Violate the Drug Laws

The Drug Enforcement Agency and a county drug task force, the Old Colony Police Anti-Crime Task Force, were also involved in the investigation.

MAGLIO was held on $80,000 cash bail, and ZERKEL was released on personal recognizance. They will be arraigned at Hingham District Court.

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