Authorities seized over 20 pounds of psychedelic mushrooms inside a grow house in Lehigh Twp. on June 7 on a tip from a distraught wife concerned about her children.
Yuriy Smirnov, 63, of 17 Tobyhanna Road, faces two felony counts of manufacturing or delivery of a controlled substance, in addition to misdemeanor possession charges.
On June 6, state police responded to Tobyhanna State Park for a welfare check on Smirnov’s wife and her two children.
She informed troopers that she fled her residence because her husband was running a mushroom and marijuana grow operation inside their home and she feared for her children’s safety.
Troopers transported the woman and her children to a hotel for the night.
Authorities then went to Smirnov’s Wayne County residence, where he consented to a search of the home and admitted growing mushrooms there.
Inside a room on the first floor of the residence, investigators found 60 containers holding mushrooms stacked on shelving units.
The next day, Pennsylvania state police Clandestine Laboratory Response Team responded to the residence with a search warrant.
While inside the residence, investigators located an extensive mushroom growing operation, a large quantity of plastic totes containing mushrooms growing at various stages, in addition to jars containing mushrooms, loaded syringes and processed marijuana.
In addition investigators found equipment consistent with a grow operation including containers, jars, dryers, capsules and spray bottles.
In total, investigators seized about 20 pounds of mushrooms from the residence.
During an interview with Smirnov, troopers learned that he had been conducting the growing operation for about a year.
He remains at the Wayne County Correctional Facility in lieu of $200,000 bail.
Smirnov waived his preliminary hearing Wednesday and his charges were transferred to Wayne County Court.
A formal arraignment in the case is scheduled for Aug. 6.