27 indicted over 14,000-plant Houston grow-house ring
Federal prosecutors indicted 27 people on 19 September 2012 after officers seized about 13,900 marijuana plants from 40 hydroponic grow houses across three Houston-area counties on 21 August. Twenty-four suspects were arrested in the raids, and investigators said 14 more grow houses had already been searched in the same inquiry.
🇺🇸 Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery Counties, Texas · Texas, United States
Federal prosecutorsindicted 27 people on 19 September 2012 over a hydroponicgrow-house ring in the Houston area, after officers seized about 13,900 marijuana plants a month earlier.[1]On 21 August officers executed warrants on 60 properties across Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery counties; 40 held active grow houses with 100 to 850 plants each, and 24 suspects were arrested.[1][2]Officers also seized growing equipment from the houses and from a suspected hydroponic storefront and warehouse.[1][2]
Charges
The defendants were charged with conspiring to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance involving more than 1,000 marijuana plants, plus conspiracy to maintain a place for making drugs.[2]A conviction on the drug conspiracy charge carried at least ten years and up to life in federal prison.[2]Investigators said 14 more grow houses had already been searched earlier in the same inquiry, bringing its total to about 19,000 plants.[2]
Case data
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