GLEN COVE POLICE DEPARTMENT

News Release 04-27-10

Details by: Lt. Thomas Fitzpatrick

OPERATION GOLD COAST

North Shore of Nassau County: A joint narcotics investigation between the Glen Cove
P.D., Nassau County P.D., and the Nassau District Attorney’s Office has concluded with
the execution of two search warrants, the arrests of multiple people on charges related to
drug dealing, and drug possession, the confiscation of cocaine, cash, and the location of
two clandestine marijuana grow houses; one in Locust Valley, the other in the Flower
Hill section of Roslyn.

What started as an investigation into a small but lucrative crack dealing ring based in
Locust Valley, NY morphed into what was found to be significant amounts of cocaine
dealing and two secret marijuana grow operations based in private homes.

James Blatchly (49) of 251 Oyster Bay Rd., Locust Valley was conducting a multi-
faceted drug operation. Blatchly, a painter by trade, is charged with using a rear
apartment at his private residence as a mini drug factory. Inside he would store his drugs
and process some of his cocaine into a drug known as “crack”. He then would have both
drugs available for sale – primarily to people known in the business as “runners” who
would further distribute the drugs more widely to other users. During the execution of the
search warrant at his home on Sat. 04-24-10, police also found that he had a marijuana
grow operation out of the same rear apartment. Police confiscated about 100 marijuana
plants, approx 7 ounces of cocaine, and substantial drug paraphernalia from the
apartment.

In an unsuspected twist during the investigation detectives also found that Blatchly was
running a larger, full scale marijuana grow operation out of a house in Flower Hill,
Roslyn. In the quiet neighborhood of million dollar homes stood a non descript rental at
67 Knollwood Dr W., where an associate of Blatchly’s resided and watched over the
plants. Over the course of the last few months the entire basement had been converted
into an elaborate laboratory where sun lamps, massive ventilation systems, incubators,
watering systems, and carbon dioxide gas, were all used to facilitate plant growth. The
second floor of the house had been converted into an area to dry the plants and package
them for sale. Approx 300 plants were confiscated from the house.
Blatchly was charged with 8 felonies, including a class “A” felony drug possession
charge. He was arraigned in First District Court - Nassau and was held on $300,000 bail.
Also arrested and charged with drug related crimes in connection with this case were:
brothers Greg and Jeff Ergen of West Harbor Dr.,Bayville, Robert Nelson of Valley La.,
Locust Valley, Thomas McCarthy of Oyster Bay Rd., Locust Valley, and Salvatore
Marino of 12th St., Locust Valley.