He Says No Force Made Him Agree To Grow

PARTNER IN POT VENTURE TESTIFIES

TAMPA - When Rocco Sarley Jr. heard from a buddy that he could invest
in new houses, get his money back and turn a large profit, he thought
it was too good to be true.

But then, Sarley said, his friend, Herbert Ferrell Jr., explained
there was a lot of money to be made in indoor marijuana growing.

Sarley was testifying in Ferrell's trial in connection with a ring
that grew marijuana inside upscale houses across the Tampa Bay region.

Ten people, including Sarley, have pleaded guilty and agreed to
cooperate with the government.

The prosecution rested Thursday afternoon, and the defense is
scheduled to begin presenting its case Monday. Attorney Joseph
Bodiford told U.S. District Judge James Moody that Ferrell will testify.

Bodiford has told jurors his client was entrapped by government informants.

Sarley, though, said no one forced him to get involved in the ring.
"It was just a mistake I made," he said.

Sarley testified he went along with Ferrell's proposal. "I wanted, I
guess, a better lifestyle," Sarley said. "I wanted the money."

Another member of the ring, Yasmany Same, testified that Ferrell
helped him launder money from growing marijuana by making it look
like Same was employed by Ferrell's business, Dermal Screening Center.