Pusher Pinched by Cops' Bogus Ransom Note

When someone stole Steven Alan Locasio's six pot plants, he wanted them back. So when the thieves left Locasio a ransom note offering to sell them back to him, he was ready to pay.

Too bad the thieves turned out to be cops.

Locasio was busted yesterday after he was lured out through the unusual police technique, according to a report from the Monroe County Sheriff's Office.

It all started when police, working on a tip, found the six pot plants growing in a wooded area in Marathon. The plants were confiscated, and police left a note in their place.

"Thanks for the grow! You want them back? Call for the price...we'll talk," the note read, and included a phone number.

Ten minutes after leaving the note, police got a call from Locasio who negotiated with the "thieves" to pay $200 to get the weed back.

When Locasio showed up for the exchange, he was busted.

But the bust got even bigger when cops searched Locasio's home and turned up 20 more pot plants, four pounds of harvested weed stuffed in a freezer, several pills of Oxycontin and $1,380 in cash.

Locasio, 48, and his wife, 50-year-old Christine Locasio were charged with cultivation of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and sale of marijuana.

As of yesterday, both were being held in jail.

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