Port Richey Father, Son Charged in Hallucinogenic Mushroom Case

Federal prosecutors in Tampa announced this week that a Port Richey father and son were indicted on charges of manufacturing hallucinogenic mushrooms in a “super lab”.

Gerald Hannafin Sr. and his son, Gerald Hannafin Jr., were arrested last year and charged in state court with maintaining a lab with more than 2,300 mushroom cultures and one kilogram of processed psilocin, the term for the drug. The Hannafins now face charges of conspiracy to manufacture psilocin. They each face a maximum of 20 years in federal prison if convicted.

Law enforcement reportedly discovered the lab last March. Authorities say that it was Pasco’s first psychedelic mushroom growing lab. They allegedly found hundreds of half-pint Mason jars packed with the mushrooms. The federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case together.

The Drug Enforcement Administration seized more than 2,300 hallucinogenic mushrooms during the investigation. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Hannafins had one of the largest “mushroom super labs” ever uncovered in the Southeast.

Although the original charges in state court are still pending, it is likely that state authorities will dismiss drop their cases as the Hannafins could face longer punishments in the federal system if convicted. If they are convicted in federal court, the Hannafins both face 20 years in prison.

There is no indication when the father and son allegedly began manufacturing the hallucinogenic mushrooms. The U.S. Attorney’s Office says though that they only stopped operations on October 20.