What I don't get is he had a very successful cocktail cherry business. So he didn't need to run a million dollar illegal business which was a tiny fraction of the legal business.
Some of the profits from the cherry business may have actually been laundered money from the cannabis business. The cherry business might not have been "very successful" on its own.
Besides that, the larger legit business provided a great cover for the smaller illegal business. He didn't need to run the grow op to run the cherry factory, but he did need the cherry factory to run the grow op more easily. There's no way he could have run it undetected for at least six years in the heart of NYC without the cherries on top.
I suspect that the cops had access to illegally obtained evidence, and the bee thing was the only way they had to legitimize what they already knew.
My bad, you're right. They went in with the excuse of investigating illegal dumping.. That's when they came across the hidden door and stairwell --but that was instigated by the triggered dog. Else they were going to wrap up the investigation.
They found a few pounds, they speculated (and they would not exaggerate would they, after spending years trying to nail him?) that he was doing $XX million in weed sales.
Besides that, the larger legit business provided a great cover for the smaller illegal business. He didn't need to run the grow op to run the cherry factory, but he did need the cherry factory to run the grow op more easily. There's no way he could have run it undetected for at least six years in the heart of NYC without the cherries on top.
I suspect that the cops had access to illegally obtained evidence, and the bee thing was the only way they had to legitimize what they already knew.