Connecticut Man Faces Charges for Operating $8.5M Mushroom Facility Inside Residence

Connecticut Man Faces Charges for Operating $8.5M Mushroom Facility Inside Residence

A man from Connecticut was apprehended by police on Thursday for allegedly operating an illegal psilocybin mushroom growing operation valued at approximately $8.5 million. Weston Soule, 21 years old, was taken into custody by Connecticut State Police after authorities discovered a hidden mushroom-growing facility in his Burlington residence. The Drug Enforcement Administration Hartford Task Force and detectives were alerted to the operation following a tip from an informant. Upon arriving at the scene, officers observed ventilation equipment consistent with those found in clandestine laboratories. Despite not granting permission for a search, Soule was accompanied by detectives to a separate garage on the property, where a substantial mushroom-growing setup was discovered. Soule claimed that the mushrooms he cultivated were not illegal, but officers found psilocybin mushrooms, also known as magic mushrooms, in various stages of growth inside his home. Psilocybin mushrooms are typically sought after for their hallucinogenic properties. Soule was subsequently arrested after admitting that the mushrooms were indeed psilocybin. He now faces charges related to possession with intent to distribute narcotics and operating a drug factory. Currently, he is being held on a cash/surety bond of $250,000. For more up-to-date news, weather, sports, and streaming video, visit KTLA.