A quiet block in Fieldston suddenly turned into a crime scene when a routine inspection of a private membership church ended with a drug bust and one arrest, according to authorities.
Police say that on March 11, investigators entered a small house of worship near West 238th Street and Greystone Avenue in the northwest Bronx and discovered several pounds of marijuana along with bags of psilocybin mushrooms. The man arrested at the scene was identified as 41-year-old Christopher McCray.
The New York City Sheriff's Office confirmed to News 12 that the inspection turned up the marijuana and psilocybin mushrooms. The group using the space identified itself as Khensv Bvildr, which local reporting describes as a private Kemetic church that calls itself the "first African‑administered church of cannabis."
Neighbors React To Surprise Church Bust
People living nearby told News 12 they were caught off guard to learn that the modest building on the corner was both a church and the site of a drug seizure.
"I was just a little surprised to see a private church that wasn't there the last time I walked by," one neighbor told the outlet. Another added, "A church is important within the community, so when you hear things like that, things start going off in your head."
Not everyone was rattled. A manager at a nearby café told News 12 the group gave off "good energy" and said they were not particularly worried about the situation.
Legal Line Between Worship And Weed
New York legalized adult-use cannabis under the Marihuana Regulation & Taxation Act, but selling cannabis without a state license is still illegal and subject to enforcement. According to the Office of Cannabis Management, enforcement actions so far have included nearly 500 sealing orders, 2,000 inspections and about $125 million worth of illicit cannabis seized as state regulators team up with local law enforcement to shut down unlicensed operations.
Psilocybin mushrooms are treated much differently. They remain federally controlled, and the National Institute on Drug Abuse lists psilocybin as a Schedule I substance. That classification means possession and distribution can carry criminal penalties under federal and many state laws.
Investigation Still Ongoing
Investigators are continuing to examine what was happening inside the Fieldston space, and the sheriff's office has not yet filed public charging documents in the case. This story will be updated as official records or court filings become available.
