Charred body found after Medford garage fire was convicted pot grower, say his attorney and brother

A burned body found in a Medford garage after a fire Monday is the home's former owner -- a man released from federal jail in March after serving time for masterminding an elaborate marijuana-growing operation, his brother and attorney said Tuesday.

They identified the man as John Franz, 54. The charred remains were discovered in a car at the Maple Street home. He lived there until his April 2012 arrest and forfeited the home that September when he pleaded guilty to felony conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and money laundering.

Homicide detectives have ruled the death noncriminal, but said the identity has not been confirmed.

Franz's brother, Bob Franz, 58, of Coram, said police told him dental and DNA records would help identify the remains.

A task force that included the Internal Revenue Service and Suffolk police caught John Franz growing marijuana at three Brookhaven properties he owned and packaging the drug for sale at his Medford home.

He agreed to forfeit a dozen properties, pay $7.5 million and give up dozens of prized guitars, court records show.

He did his time at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center and continued to cooperate in other marijuana investigations after his March release, said his attorney, Neil Checkman of Manhattan.

Bob Franz said his younger brother's life had not been easy since the arrest. After getting out of jail, John Franz could not move on with his life because, as part of his plea deal, his case would wrap up only after the other investigations ended, his brother said.

"He had money, he had power, and he lost all that," the brother said. "When all the bricks fell, he had nothing."

Checkman said at the time of his death, his client was getting his life back on track.

Franz had a girlfriend whose granddaughter he loved so much he called her his "grandchild," Checkman said, adding that federal authorities promised they would give the musician back one of his prized possessions -- a tiger-striped drum set.

Authorities have delayed selling the properties, the brother and attorney said, and Franz's Medford home fell into foreclosure.

John Franz would go back regularly to clean up damage by vagrants, his brother said.

"He was hoping to get it back one day," Franz said.