Graduate Grew Pot into Economic Success
After Classy Education at Harvard on the St. Mary's

Two deputies overcome by fumes when raiding drug dealing factory in sleepy residential neighborhood

Ned and Viet: Call home, the cops are looking for you...
Samuels was a frequent visitor to various college parties dealing dope to deadheads....remember, only The Shadow knows for sure!

By Ahmar Khan

ST. MARY’S TODAY

ST. JAMES --- A plethora of drugs including 120 marijuana plants worth $1,20,000, one pound of refined marijuana $1600, hashish $200, organic mushrooms $500 and barbiturate pills worth $400, plus two handguns from a home when offices responded to the call for a shooting victim on Sunday just before midnight.

Lt. Dan Alioto, commander of the St. Mary's Sheriff's drug investigation squad, said that upon arrival on a shooting report officers were advised by neighbors that the victim had been shot and was inside a nearby residence. 

“But when the officers arrived at the Evergreen Park Road, the door was shut closed,” said St. Mary’s Lt. Dan Alioto. When nobody answered the door, officers forced their way onto the house and found bleeding Brian Samuels, 25, called police to report that he had been bleeding from a gunshot wound to the lower arm.
ST. MARY'S TODAY has learned that Samuels was possibly shot in the hand.  Sources report that the shooting may simply have been perpetrated by someone looking to rob him as he had built a reputation for being a fairly successful dealer.   Samuels reportedly paid his rent in cash promptly to his landlords and had been renting the modest frame house for five years.
But when police went into the house after the reported shooting they found a mess and a den of flowering fauna.

“There was blood all over the walls,” Alioto said.

But being shot wasn't even the start, as when police arrived they found a sophisticated pot growing operation for this St. Mary's College graduate of Jamaican-origin who was an economics major.

“All the rooms contained marijuana plants, growing inside the house,” Alioto said.

“He had a real elaborate setup.”

At least two Patrol Officers were overcome by drug fumes and responded to St. Mary’s Hospital for evaluation. A third officer and two potential witnesses also responded to St. Mary’s Hospital as an exposure precaution. Everyone was treated and released.

Police initially thought they may have busted a meth lab, which according to some reports proliferate underground in St. Mary’s.

St. Mary’s County Emergency Management Personnel, Patuxent River Naval Air Station Haz-Mat Team and various St. Mary’s County Volunteer Fire Departments and Rescue Squads responded to help the victims.

The drug fumes forced evacuation of 50 persons from nearby homes. Later the vapors and odors were deemed none life-threatening.   

Alioto said the joint State Police / St. Mary's Sheriff's investigation team was still investigating who else was involved in the drug growing operation. “He had a real elaborate set-up,” Alioto said. “It will take us a while to sort this one out.”

Samuels has quite a large customer base possible in the St. Mary's College community, who will now have to turn to other dealers, many of whom who hang out at local bars.

If you are the one who apparently got ripped off by Samuels and shot him, giving him what he may have deserved, the police may have a reward for you. 

Call Lt. Alioto at the Sheriff's Dept. for reward information.

Samuels was treated for his gunshot and was being fitted for a room at the Hotel St. Mary's.

More than $20,000.00 worth of marijuana growing equipment, $12,000 cash from Samuel’s bank account and a 2002 Honda Civic were also seized.