Hull man and pregnant wife busted in huge pot operation

The Hull Police Department has charged a man and his pregnant wife with weapons and drugs violations after they uncovered a large marijuana operation at their home.

On Thursday, David Maglio, 35, and his pregnant wife Erika Zerkel, 38, were arrested after Hull police raided a sophisticated marijuana operation based at the couple’s home, authorities reported. Besides pot, police also confiscated several firearms.

Maglio, who has prior drug convictions, was considered armed and dangerous by police before the bust, leading officials to execute the search warrant with the assistance of the MetroLEC SWAT team, police explained.

“The male suspect in this case is a career criminal, well-known to police, who was armed and dangerous. All precautions were taken, and I am very proud that this investigation came to a conclusion without incident or injury to either the suspects or police officers involved,” Acting Police Chief Robert C. Sawtelle said in a police statement.

In the raid, police seized a handgun, rifle, more than $5,000 in cash, more than 40 pounds of pot and nearly 50 marijuana plants, authorities added.

Maglio was charged with the possession and cultivation of marijuana, intent to distribute and various weapons-related charges, police stated. Zerkel was charged with marijuana possession and cultivation.

Because of Zerkel’s pregnancy, both suspects were charged with the reckless endangerment of her unborn child, Hull police added.