Two arrested for having $4 million in drugs at former Cuba cookie factory

By Rick Miller

Olean Star

CUBA — Two local residents were arrested last week as Cuba Police busted a marijuana growing operation in the former Farnsworth Cookie factory in Cuba and seized nearly $4  million worth of drugs.

Cuba Police described it as the largest drug bust in Allegany County history. A search warrant was served at 8670 Farnsworth Road, Town of Cuba, at 7 a.m. on Oct. 10.

Police found 600 marijuana plants weighing half a ton growing at the former cookie factory and 100 pounds of dried marijuana. They also seized psilocybin mushrooms, lab equipment and an illegal handgun.

Daniel S. Ackerman, 58, and Ana Laura Maldonado-Delgado, who was described as an undocumented immigrant, were charged with numerous felonies. Both were taken into custody and arraigned  

Ackerman was remanded to the Allegany County Jail and Maldonado-Delgado was turned over to the Border Patrol.

Ackerman was charged with two counts of first-degree criminal possession of cannabis, seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and resisting arrest.

Maldonado-Delgado was charged with two counts of first-degree criminal possession of cannabis, seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and two counts of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. 

The investigation began almost a year ago, according to Cuba Police, who were aided by the Allegany County Sheriff’s Office, Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office, Olean Police, the Department of Environmental Conservation, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Border Patrol.