Man convicted on drug charges
Montgomery Township resident could spend time behind bars for pot grow operation
NORRISTOWN » A Montgomery Township man is facing prison time after a judge convicted him of charges he operated a marijuana grow operation from the basement of his brother’s Springfield Township home.
Tyree Lamar Bigelow, 31, of the 100 block of Hanover Avenue, was convicted in Montgomery County Court of charges of possession with intent to deliver marijuana, persons not to possess firearms,
criminal use of a communication facility and possession of drug paraphernalia in connection with the January 2017 incident.
Judge Thomas C. Branca rendered the verdict after a non-jury trial at which Bigelow stipulated to certain facts contained in a criminal complaint filed by Springfield Township police.
Essentially, the judge determined Bigelow possessed 13 potted marijuana plants, heat lamps and a filtration system in a separately secured area, enclosed by drywall, which he set up in his brother’s basement. The judge also found that Bigelow illegally possessed a 9 mm semiautomatic handgun while carrying out his drug activities.
The judge remanded Bigelow to the county jail without bail to await sentencing. Bigelow potentially faces more than a decade behind bars on the charges.
County Assistant District Attorney Laura Bradbury vowed to seek prison time against Bigelow.
“This is a serious offense with a major marijuana grow operation. Our allegations against Tyree were that it was his grow operation. He was the mastermind behind it,” Bradbury said.
Bigelow’s brother, Anwar C. Bigelow, 39, formerly of
the 900 block of Mermaid Lane in the Wyndmoor section of Springfield Township, is still awaiting trial on various drug- and conspiracy-related charges in connection with the alleged grow operation. Prosecutors alleged Anwar Bigelow was aware his brother had the grow operation in the basement. But when confronted by detectives about the allegations Anwar denied any knowledge of the grow operation, according to a criminal complaint.
Detectives alleged they found the handgun in the basement in the area set aside for the marijuana growing operation. Prosecutors alleged Tyree Bigelow had a prior drug conviction that prohibited him from possessing a firearm.
“Typically, with drug activity, drug dealers use guns for protection, they use guns to take to drug deals, and it escalates the crime of drug dealing to a very violent one, making it more of a danger to the community,” Bradbury alleged.
The investigation began about 11:15 a.m. Jan. 10, when Springfield Township police officers received a tip that Tyree Bigelow was growing marijuana in the Mermaid Lane residence. Police encountered Tyree inside the home coming out of the basement.
“Officers smelled a strong odor of unburnt marijuana in the basement and went further into the basement to find a marijuana grow operation,” Springfield Detective
Stephen Craig wrote in the arrest affidavit.
Detectives found two large self-contained tents, one containing 13 potted marijuana plants, along with heat lamps, a filtration system and large power supplies connected to a timer, according to the criminal complaint. Authorities also found clear bags containing marijuana packaged for sale as well as packaging materials and digital scales, court documents indicate.
The estimated weight of the packaged marijuana found in the basement was 12 ounces, detectives alleged.
In the criminal complaint detectives alleged the investigation determined that Anwar was receiving money each month to allow Tyree to utilize the basement.
“He gave Tyree permission to build a wall and to establish an electrical hookup that would circumvent the meter and allow the grow operation to go unnoticed by a rise in utility bills,” Craig alleged.
Detectives claimed they found a text message exchange between the brothers during which Anwar warned Tyree that a utility worker might have to go into the basement.
“They discussed the grow operation in those texts. This showed that Anwar had knowledge of what his basement was being used for and was given money by Tyree Bigelow each month,” Craig alleged.