Pittsburgh-Area Barn Was Marijuana Factory: Police

WASHINGTON COUNTY, PA — While taking a man into custody for parole violations on Wednesday, police discovered a large-scale marijuana operation in Mount Pleasant.

Officers say they were asked to do a compliance check on Dante Sunseri, 42, for failing drug tests while on parole. According to the Mt. Pleasant Township police, Sunseri was on parole for multiple felonies in Colorado - including kidnapping and sexual assault.

While taking Sunseri into custody, police observed that he likely was destroying evidence in a barn located on Southview Road in McDonald, which is within Mount Pleasant. Authorities suspected he was producing and distributing marijuana marijuana.

After obtaining a search warrant and receiving assistance from other investigative agencies, the search produced three truckloads of evidence from the barn, which was outfitted with four stories and multiple grow rooms to produce large quantities of marijuana.

Hundreds of planters, grow lamps, hydroponics systems, furnace systems, exhaust systems, scales, and filtration systems also were found.

Additionally, the search produced nine firearms, multiple calibers and rounds of ammunition, and a large amount of marijuana with other numerous pieces of drug paraphernalia.

As a convicted felon, Sunseri is prohibited from carrying a firearm.

Sunseri was charged with possession of a firearm prohibited and delivery or possession with intent to deliver, both of which are felonies. He also is facing a misdemeanor count of the use/possession of drug paraphernalia.