LACEY−A 60-year-old township woman has been accused of running a psilocybin mushroom manufacturing facility at her Elwood Street home while she was caring for three minors, using one of the children to help with the operation.
Margaret Whalen, 60, was charged Tuesday with with maintaining or operating a controlled dangerous substance facility, manufacturing pcilocybin mushrooms, possession of the mushrooms, possession with intent to distribute them, employing a juvenile in a drug distribution scheme and two counts of child endangerment.
In March, the state Division of Child Protection and Permanency called Lacey police after receiving information that Whalen was producing psilocybin mushrooms in her home and dealing them, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said in a statement.
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Lacey police and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit got a search warrant and raided the home March 13, seizing jars of suspected psilocybin mushrooms, Billhimer said. Samples from the jars were tested at the unit’s laboratory and the results came back positive on May 23, he said.
Lacey police and the Special Victims Unit of the prosecutor’s office investigated, finding that Whalen was the legal guardian of three minors who lived with her while she was engaged in the manufacturing and distribution scheme and used one of the children to make and deal the narcotics, Billhimer said.
Whalen was arrested Wednesday and taken to Ocean County Jail in Toms River where she is awaiting a detention hearing.
Lawyer information for her was not immediately available.
Ken Serrano covers breaking news, crime and investigations. Reach him at 732-643-4029 or kserrano@gannettnj.com.
60-year-old Lacey woman accused of growing, dealing psilocybin mushrooms with kids around – Asbury Park Press
