A pillar of a wealthy Long Island community who ran a successful business, headed the local Chamber of Commerce and even played Santa at Christmas managed to free some time from his busy schedule for another enterprise – selling pot, authorities said yesterday.
Lester Huffer, 57, who lives in the Gold Coast community of Locust Valley, was charged with criminal sale of marijuana, a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
Like any good businessman, he offered merchandise in various price ranges, said Rick Hinshaw, a spokesman for Nassau DA Denis Dillon.
Bargain-seekers could order “Bob” – low-grade weed imported from Mexico and named after reggae legend Bob Marley.
For well-heeled customers, he allegedly sold higher-grade hydroponically grown marijuana nicknamed “Phil” for as much as $3,500 a pound. Authorities have not yet figured out “Phil’s” namesake.
The civic leader – a former president of the Chamber of Commerce in Oyster Bay where he owns a sign store – was among nine people charged with participating in a marijuana distribution network.
The charges follow a 10-month investigation by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration and Long Island cops.
Arrests began in September and concluded late last month, said Hinshaw.
“In the typical scenario, the client would call [Huffer’s] store, place an order and then stop by and make a purchase,” Dillon said.
Huffer, who also would play Santa at shopping malls, was busted Oct. 7 with bail set at $150,000.
Five others were also charged with sale or possession of marijuana, while three were charged with conspiracy.
Among the others charged was John Donovan, 52, of Olympia, Wash., who was accused of using a minivan to transport the marijuana from California and Texas to Long Island, traveling almost 200,000 miles in the last two years.
With Post Wire Services