Aurora Starchild
A man is being compared to Breaking Bad’s Walter White after his large-scale drug operation was busted. Like Walter White, Edward McCann was given a limited life expectancy after being diagnosed with a serious illness. Unlike the TV show’s protagonist, McCann turned to cannabis instead of meth. Edward McCann was diagnosed with Leukemia in 2010.
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Edward McCann’s Cannabis Empire Compared to Walter White’s Meth Operation
After his diagnosis, McCann discovered that cannabis alleviated many of the symptoms his chemotherapy and radiation treatments were giving him. He then started up a small cannabis operation that involved cultivation.
However, McCann’s small operation turned into a full-blown “industrial-scale cannabis factory,” which is also very illegal in his home country of Wales.
Another key difference between McCann and White is the fact that the real person involved his entire family in the business. When he was busted, so were his wife, his son, and his daughter. Altogether, the family cannabis business is believed to have brought in over $5.3 million in profits.
The McCann family had a cannabis manufacturing factory where they made products such as oils and chocolates. The factory was hidden in a farmhouse barn in a remote part of Wales. Police tracked down the factory after discovering messages between Edward and his son, Daniel. They seized over 200 plants and over $1.8 million worth of cannabis products.
The cultivation operation was described as incredibly sophisticated. Plants were grown hydroponically, and the power grid had been locally and illegally bypassed. CCTV cameras were also manipulated to erase footage after 48 hours.
Edward and 2 of His 3 Family Members Were Sentenced to Prison for Criminal Conspiracy
Edward McCann was sentenced to 7 years and 7 months of prison time. His wife, Linda, was sentenced to 6 years and 7 months. Their son, Daniel, was sentenced to 8 years and 6 months. Daughter Samantha’s charges were dropped due to a lack of evidence.
The McCanns, as well as two more factory workers, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to produce and supply cannabis between 2015 and 2020, and to acquiring criminal property. Edward also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to produce and supply cannabis between 2013 and 2015.
Justice Geraint Walters acknowledged that Edward McCann suffered from Leukemia and was initially drawn to cannabis as a healing plant. However, he said that McCann’s cannabis empire overwhelmingly pointed to a different intention.
“The reality is that you have moved away from that, and it would be a breach of common sense to assume that an operation of this magnitude has anything to do with the production of medicinal cannabis,” said Walters.
