On 12 September 2000 law enforcement agents raided a warehouse at 29 Okie Street in Providence, Rhode Island, and found evidence of a massive hydroponic marijuana growing operation.[1][2] Balthazard had rented the building in his own name from 1993 until 1998, an electrician had wired it with grow lights and timers in 1994, and investigators lifted his fingerprints from transformer boxes and Souve’s from a grow light bulb.[1][2]

The raid produced an indictment charging Balthazard and Souve with conspiring with James St. Jacques to manufacture and possess marijuana with intent to distribute from at least 1 January 1994 up to the raid.[1][2] Prosecutors said the partners grew cannabis hydroponically at several sites and processed it three or four times a year using hired bud pickers paid in marijuana, with a ledger and profit-sharing testimony tying all three men to the trade.[1][2]

A jury convicted Balthazard and Souve of conspiracy to manufacture more than 1,000 marijuana plants, and on 15 March 2004 the First Circuit rejected their appeal and affirmed the judgments.[1][2] At sentencing the court held each man responsible for 9,295 plants, based on 56 developed plants, 3,616 seedlings and 5,623 harvested stems and stumps recovered from the warehouse.[1][2]