Two men charged with operating an illegal large-scale cannabis cultivation in Wayne County have been released from custody with conditions as their case continues in federal court in Buffalo. U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder Jr. granted Ferrydoon M. Ardehali, aged 55 and from Staten Island, an unsecured $20,000 bond, stating he would have to be “intellectually dishonest” to accept the government’s claim that Ardehali was a flight risk. The judge expressed confidence that the conditions he imposed would mitigate any concerns about Ardehali’s release, allowing him to return to his properties in Wayne County and Staten Island.
Federal agents arrested Ardehali and Colby Riggle, 37, from California, last week during an operation that resulted in the seizure of 29,406 marijuana plants from a farm in Wayne County. The business allegedly supplied marijuana to multiple licensed cannabis businesses throughout New York State, including those in Erie County. Riggle was released shortly after his initial court appearance, with Assistant Federal Public Defender Fonda Dawn Kubiak stating that he maintains his innocence and looks forward to defending himself against the charges. Riggle reportedly worked as a farmhand and claims he was not involved in the farm’s ownership or management.
In contrast, Ardehali admitted to owning the farm and informed federal agents that he did not possess a license to cultivate cannabis. An affidavit from DEA task force agent Cory Higgins detailed that the investigation into Ardehali’s operation began in January and focused on a 26-acre property in Walworth, featuring 45 greenhouses with transparent domed roofs linked by various structures. Despite applying for a cannabis growing license, Ardehali’s business, operating under the name Integrity Farms & Greenhouses Inc., has not received any licensing from the New York State Office of Cannabis Management.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Donna Duncan characterized Ardehali’s actions as driven by greed, and expressed frustration at his attempts to profit quickly rather than waiting for legal authorization. In a prior court appearance, Ardehali mentioned that he and his wife previously operated Metro Safe Housing in New York City, which provided emergency housing for the needy until they ceased operations in anticipation of securing a cannabis license.
Both men face serious charges: manufacturing and possessing with the intent to distribute over 1,000 marijuana plants, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison. Judge Schroeder acknowledged Ardehali’s application for a license, noting the transparency of his operation. “We’re not talking about a meth lab in some dark cave,” the judge remarked.
As the case unfolds, the legal implications for both men and the broader context of cannabis regulation in New York State remain under scrutiny.
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