Investigators found 54 marijuana plants and a large supply of harvested pot in a Monroe Township home, police said.
MONROE TWP. -- Police have charged three family members and a family friend with running a pot-growing operation out of a township home.
Monroe Police received a tip that a house in the 2700 block of Fries Mill Road was being used to grow marijuana. After detecting the odor of raw marijuana, police investigated further and obtained warrants to search the property.
A search of the home and multiple vehicles turned up 54 marijuana plants, a "large quantity" of harvested marijuana, fluorescent lighting, water pumps, fertilizer, air filters and many other items used to grow pot, police said.
Officers also seized more than $700 in cash as part of the investigation.
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Robert W. Rudley, 48, of Woodland Drive, Williamstown, is accused of leading the operation, while his mother, Yvonne Rudley, 69, of Williamstown, and aunt, Barbara J. Stevens, 63, of Sicklerville were also charged, along with family friend Janice M. Kessler, 53, of Sicklerville.
Robert Rudley was charged with the most serious offenses, including distribution/manufacture of marijuana, possession of marijuana over 50 grams, being leader of a narcotics network and maintaining a CDS production facility.
He was placed in Salem County Correctional Facility on $75,000 full cash bail.
Yvonne Rudley, Stevens and Kessler were charged with distribution/manufacture of marijuana and possession of marijuana over 50 grams. Kessler was also charged with obstruction.
Rudley and Stevens were placed in Salem County jail on $25,000 bail each. Kessler posted $25,000 bail and was released.
While police said no one appeared to be living in the Fries Mill Road home, they think Robert Rudley was sleeping there recently because of a mattress found in the kitchen.
Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.