Investigations Unravel Ties Between Oklahoma Marijuana Farms and New York Money
A string of violent incidents connected to a marijuana farm in Oklahoma—highlighted by a shocking quadruple murder and a home invasion—has unveiled a covert network with links to financial interests in New York. A recent report suggests that organized crime, particularly groups tied to China, may be involved.
Authorities revealed that this operation thrives on out-of-state funding, hidden ownership structures, and lax marijuana regulations. This environment has enabled criminal organizations to expand illegal farming operations, exploit immigrant labor, and funnel substantial amounts of cannabis into the black market.
Investigators traced the money trail from rural Oklahoma back to New York City, where political fundraisers, real estate stakeholders, and leaders of the Chinese Hometown Association are believed to have provided financial backing for the farm. This association claims connections with lawmakers who have ties to Beijing and are under federal scrutiny.
Oklahoma’s permissive medical marijuana laws, lacking limits on grower production, have created ripe conditions for these illicit activities. This has led to excessive cultivation that far exceeds local demand, facilitating illegal trade across state lines, according to law enforcement.
A key figure in this operation is John Lamb, a New York real estate developer known for his fundraising efforts for former Mayor Eric Adams. Lamb reportedly purchased a marijuana farm in Oklahoma for $1.5 million for his associate, Wian Wang, though he later distanced himself from the day-to-day operations, claiming he was merely an unpaid landlord.
Tragically, in January 2025, Wang was discovered shot in his Edmond, Oklahoma home, found face down with a bloody kitchen knife in hand, suggesting he was attempting to defend himself during a violent home invasion targeted at robbing him.
At 61, Wang was actively recruiting investors from China for Lamb’s enterprise, overseeing several Chinese hometown associations in New York, including one that openly supported pro-Beijing policies. This association even backed Adams’ mayoral campaign while endorsing controversial practices in Hong Kong, as noted in reports.
One of Wang’s operations faced closure in August 2022 after firefighters responding to a fire discovered Chinese workers living in inadequate conditions. They were found working without proper permits and cooking over makeshift fires outdoors, leading to official intervention.
The former owner, Chelsea Davis, shared disturbing details about the working conditions, suggesting that some workers were under such pressure that they resorted to using containers intended for fertilizer as makeshift toilets, showcasing the inhumane circumstances they faced.
Firefighters also noted that workers were relying on geese and turtles caught from a nearby lake for sustenance, keeping these animals in poorly constructed enclosures. Operations at the site were ultimately halted.
Not long after the crackdown, an application to reopen the farm that appeared to bear Lamb’s name emerged but was quickly rejected due to lacking the required marijuana permits and safety standards. Lamb later denied giving personal authorization for this application.
Despite the closure of Wang’s business, documents indicate he remained involved in the cannabis scene. Authorities initiated a far-reaching investigation into marijuana farms linked to Hometown Association leaders from New York amidst rising concerns about hidden ownership and labor abuses.
Surveillance operations have extended to several other leaders from New York-based hometown associations, with almost a dozen individuals identified as having connections to cannabis farms in Oklahoma. Many are now under scrutiny regarding potential ownership concealment and labor exploitation.
In a particularly harrowing incident from November 2022, four individuals were executed at an unlicensed marijuana farm in Kingfisher County over a $300,000 investment dispute involving Wu Chen, a former Chinese worker. This case has been highlighted by law enforcement as a stark reminder of the escalating violence associated with the state’s illicit marijuana operations.
