Lockport Union-Sun & Journal — A father and son from Hartland were sentenced in federal court Thursday following their conviction of conspiracy to manufacture marijuana.
William John Pippard, 51, and Robert Vincent Pippard, 29, were sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara, said U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr.
William Pippard was sentenced to six months in a half-way house and six months home detention. Robert Pippard was sentenced to one year in prison.
The duo manufactured nearly 100 marijuana plants in their residence and adjacent barn at 7366 Ridge Road, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas S. Duszkiewicz, who handled the case.
The marijuana grow operation was seized by the New York State Police and Niagara County Drug Task Force after the execution of a search warrant in March 2011.
A follow-up investigation revealed sophisticated lighting and irrigation for the growing plants within the house as well as the barn. Prescription pills, packaged marijuana, hashish, scales and a rifle were also discovered.
This is at least the third time that Robert Pippard has been in trouble with local law enforcement. In November 2010, Robert Pippard was charged by Lockport police with seventh-degree possession of a controlled substance and third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation after he reportedly was intoxicated when he tried to pick up his son from DeWitt Clinton Elementary School.
In Jan. 2009, Pippard was charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle after a traffic stop on Lockport-Olcott Road.
The sentencings are the culmination of an investigation by the New York State Police Community Narcotics Enforcement Team (CNET), under the direction of Major Wayne C. Olson and the Niagara County Drug Task Force, under the direction of Sheriff James RVoutour.
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