Putnam County Sheriff Kevin J. McConville reports the arrest of Zhenxiu Lu, age 39, of Brewster, NY.
In January 2024, an investigator assigned to the Sheriff's Department Narcotics Enforcement Unit (NEU) developed information that The Tobacco House of Zhang, 1878 State Route 6, in the Town of Carmel, was selling psilocybin mushroom products. The investigator made three purchases of psilocybin mushrooms from Zhenxiu Lu at the location.
On March 4, 2024, Narcotics Enforcement Unit members took Mr. Lu into custody before executing a search warrant at his residence in the Town of Southeast. As a result of the search warrant, NEU members seized approximately $53,000 in US Currency from the residence, along with business and drug records. Members of the office also executed a search warrant at the business in the Town of Carmel. That search resulted in the seizure of US Currency, a large amount of psilocybin mushrooms, and marijuana products.
Lu was arraigned by the Honorable Judge Miller of the Town of Carmel Court on three counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 5th Degree and Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the 5th Degree: violations of NYS Penal Law sections 220.06 subsection 1 and 220.31, Class D felonies. He was released on his own recognizance, pending a future court date. The Town of Carmel Code Enforcement Officer was notified and will take the appropriate action regarding the illegal business activities.
