Peter Zuccaro , Michael Lezamiz , Leonard Palone , Joseph Iorio and Harry Gabor were charged with operating the indoor hydroponic growing scheme , which employed 15 people and had grossed nearly $ 12 million since 1997 , according to the office of Roslynn R. Mauskopf , the United States attorney for the Eastern District of New York , and District Attorney Denis Dillon of Nassau County .