Port Colborne man receives house arrest for his role in marijuana grow-operation

A 68-year-old man has been fined $100,000 for his role in a large-scale marijuana grow-op at a Port Colborne farm.

Craig Ferguson, a resident of Caledon, also received a twoyear conditional sentence — also known has house arrest.

“This is a jail sentence, the advantage is you get to serve it in the community,” Judge Fergus O’donnell said Monday. “But, it is still a jail sentence so strict compliance is the order of the day.”

Ferguson, who appeared in Ontario Court of Justice in St.

Catharines via Zoom for sentencing on several drug-related offences, was also ordered to perform 240 hours of community service.

“That is intended as a way for you to pay back society,” the judge said.

A Pinecrest Road farm in Port Colborne became the focus of a police investigation in the fall of 2016 after two people who lived at a home on the rural property reported being tied up and held at gunpoint by a group of up to 10 men who demanded drugs, cash and guns.

The property was home to a marijuana greenhouse operation, formerly known as Muileboom Organics, whose board members once included former prime minister John Turner.

Peter Muileboom had sold the property and was hired by the new owner to tend to the marijuana crop due to his proficiency in growing tomatoes.

The owner had several Health Canada licences to produce medical marijuana, but the licenses limited production to about 400 plants.

Police, through the course of the investigation into the robbery, discovered almost 3,400 marijuana plants in various stages of growth.

Muileboom, 66, was cautioned by police, but not charged with a crime.

Police returned to the property six months later and discovered a further 3,000 pot plants.

Muileboom was arrested at the farm. Police also raided an address in Brampton and arrested Ferguson, described as the property’s landlord, and charged him with several drugrelated charges.

Muileboom was sentenced in August 2020 to 30 days in jail.