TENANTS BLAMED IN POT BUST

Landlord a 'victim': Lawyer

BARRIE -- Ask his associates and you'll find Vincent De Rosa is a good
landlord who got unlucky when his companies rented space at two locations to
tenants who were growing marijuana -- and lots of it. Ask the OPP about De
Rosa and you'll find they have questions of their own as they piece together
who is responsible for the huge pot grow operation at the former Molson
plant, owned by De Rosa, and a second operation at another property he owns
on Hwy. 11.

The plaza on Hwy. 11 is managed by De Rosa's brother, Robert.

OPP Det. Rick Barnum said the ownership of the buildings is "definitely
curious."

"It is the next logical step to investigate that connection and look into it
further."

PIPES BURST

The investigation into Canada's largest-ever pot bust at the old Molson
plant on Hwy. 400 continues, although it slowed yesterday as pipes in the
brewery froze and burst, spilling water over electrical panels.

So far, police say no further arrests have been made and will not say if
they have interviewed the De Rosa brothers.

Through his lawyer, John Wolf, De Rosa said he's a "victim" and had nothing
to do with the grow operation.

Gordon Laschinger, a vice-president at realtor J. J. Barnicke, who has
worked with Vince De Rosa on buying properties for more than five years,
said the De Rosas are victims of bad tenants.

NO SURPRISE

He said it should be no surprise the property owner doesn't know who is
doing what at their properties.

"In industrial spaces, the tenant does everything and the landlord never
goes in," Laschinger said, adding there's no indication the tenants in the
two busts were the same people. De Rosa's company, Fercan Developments Inc.,
bought the Molson plant in 2001 for $8 million.