Brooklyn Cherry Company Pleads Guilty To Marijuana, Pollution Charges

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A Brooklyn cherry company has pleaded guilty to charges of possessing marijuana and failing to monitor wastewater it was dumping into the New York City sewer system.

The case against Dell's Maraschino Cherries dates back to February when investigators raided the family-run company's factory in Brooklyn and found a massive marijuana growing operation, WCBS 880's Jim Smith reported.

During the raid, company owner Arthur Mondella locked himself in a bathroom and fatally shot himself.

Company attorney Michael Farkas said the drugs were a surprise to the family.

"There have been no indications that any individuals other than Arthur Mondella were responsible for involved with the marijuana operation," Farkas said.

Under an agreement to settle the criminal case, the company will pay $1.2 million. That includes $130,000 in cash that investigators seized during the raid.

"This amount was specifically negotiated to ensure the survival of the company," Farkas said.

Dell's Maraschino Cherries will also be subject to inspections four times a year.

(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)