Pubdate: Fri, 09 Mar 2007
Source: Times, The (Gainesville, GA)
Copyright: 2007 Gainesville Times
Contact:  http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2701
Author: Stephen Gurr, The Times
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)

FEDS JOIN POT SEARCH

Officials Have Seized 52,000 Plants In Raids

As a statewide marijuana trafficking probe widens with almost daily 
raids on indoor "grow houses," federal authorities have agreed to step in.

The U.S. Attorney's Office will prosecute the bulk of the cases that 
have resulted in raids on 55 houses in 13 Georgia counties since 
mid-February, including two in Hall, an official with the Drug 
Enforcement Administration's Atlanta office said Thursday.

The DEA's Ruth Porter-Whipple referred all questions to the office of 
the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia. Patrick 
Crosby, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office, would not confirm 
or deny the office's involvement.

Fayette County Sheriff's Capt. Mike Pruitt, the commander of the drug 
task force that initiated the investigation, said the decision to 
involve federal officials was made during a Wednesday meeting of the 
Georgia Governor's Drug Task Force.

"It was time to get the feds involved," said Pruitt, who added that 
the DEA has an active role in the investigation. "It had just gotten 
too big and in too many jurisdictions."

As of Thursday, officials estimate they have seized 52,000 marijuana 
plants worth roughly $63 million, as well as $25.4 million in indoor 
growing equipment. Gwinnett County alone has raided 11 houses and 
seized some $10 million worth of pot, including searches at two more 
houses this week. On Thursday, more searches were being conducted in 
Walton County, Pruitt said.

In Hall County, on Feb. 19 and Feb. 21, authorities seized a total of 
288 plants from two houses with an estimated value of $576,000.

The houses were located about a mile apart off Tanners Mill Road and 
Benefield Road. Both were unoccupied at the time of the raids and no 
arrests have been made in the Hall County cases. Authorities are 
looking for the homeowner, listed as Luis R. Rojas-Argote.

Gwinnett County authorities have arrested eight people, all of whom 
were home at the time of the raids. Fayette County sheriff's 
officials have rounded up at least 25 people, including the suspected 
ringleader, 35-year-old Merquiades Martinez.

Federal prosecution in drug cases can mean longer sentences and no 
option of parole.

The use of electricity by the growers to power ultraviolet lights and 
ventilation systems in the basement grow rooms may be used against 
them in court, Pruitt said.

The growers avoided astronomical power bills and suspicion by tapping 
into the main electrical lines, sidestepping residential power meters.

Pruitt said prosecutors have discussed using that power diversion as 
a basis for a conspiracy charge.
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