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Federal prosecutors have filed charges against eight suspects in a Seattle-area marijuana grow scheme.
Authorities claim the eight Renton and Tacoma residents had converted at least 11 houses into marijuana grows. The ring was allegedly based out of a Fife garden supply store that supplied the growers.
In statements to the court, an Auburn police detective assigned to a Drug Enforcement Administration taskforce noted that intermittent surveillance had been conducted at the Fife business, Seapac Garden Equipment, since May 2008.
A month before, DEA agents based in Tacoma and Tampa, Fla., conducted an investigation that saw seven Puget Sound-area marijuana grow houses raided and five growers convicted on federal drug charges.
Agents came to believe the Fife store was serving as a front for other growers, including business owner Phuoc Huy Nguyen Truong.
"It appears that all the individuals on Seapac's payroll are involved in the marihuana organization," the Auburn detective told the court. "We believe that Seapac is a 'front' business, used to give the members of the organization the appearance of legitimate employment and legitimate income."
Writing the court, the Auburn taskforce officer claimed Truong's business was essentially closed to the public and only dealt with marijuana farmers. Nonetheless, business was brisk; bank records showed $1.3 million was deposited in the business account from August 2006 to December 2010.
The detective went on to claim that members of the conspiracy bought houses in Pierce and King counties where they grew pot.
Having used a thermal imaging scope to examine homes weeks before, taskforce officers obtained search warrants to raid 11 homes and 11 cars on Feb. 28. All told, investigators seized more than 5,000 pot plants at homes in Renton and Tacoma, and the Fife business.
The detective noted he believes Truong or his associates operated grows other residences in Seattle, Tukwila and elsewhere.
According to charging documents, Truong admitted to orchestrating the marijuana grows. Several of his co-defendants are also alleged to have admitted to working for Truong; one man said Truong paid him $1,700 to $1,800 a pound for marijuana that he grew.
Truong and seven others have been charged with conspiracy to manufacture marijuana. All eight defendants are currently in custody and expected to appear Monday afternoon in U.S. District Court at Tacoma.
NewsHawk: MedicalNeed: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: seattlepi.com
Author: LEVI PULKKINEN
Contact: seattlepi.com / Hearst Seattle Media Staff Directory
Copyright: 1996-2010 Hearst Seattle Media, LLC
Website: Eight charged following Seattle-area marijuana raids
Authorities claim the eight Renton and Tacoma residents had converted at least 11 houses into marijuana grows. The ring was allegedly based out of a Fife garden supply store that supplied the growers.
In statements to the court, an Auburn police detective assigned to a Drug Enforcement Administration taskforce noted that intermittent surveillance had been conducted at the Fife business, Seapac Garden Equipment, since May 2008.
A month before, DEA agents based in Tacoma and Tampa, Fla., conducted an investigation that saw seven Puget Sound-area marijuana grow houses raided and five growers convicted on federal drug charges.
Agents came to believe the Fife store was serving as a front for other growers, including business owner Phuoc Huy Nguyen Truong.
"It appears that all the individuals on Seapac's payroll are involved in the marihuana organization," the Auburn detective told the court. "We believe that Seapac is a 'front' business, used to give the members of the organization the appearance of legitimate employment and legitimate income."
Writing the court, the Auburn taskforce officer claimed Truong's business was essentially closed to the public and only dealt with marijuana farmers. Nonetheless, business was brisk; bank records showed $1.3 million was deposited in the business account from August 2006 to December 2010.
The detective went on to claim that members of the conspiracy bought houses in Pierce and King counties where they grew pot.
Having used a thermal imaging scope to examine homes weeks before, taskforce officers obtained search warrants to raid 11 homes and 11 cars on Feb. 28. All told, investigators seized more than 5,000 pot plants at homes in Renton and Tacoma, and the Fife business.
The detective noted he believes Truong or his associates operated grows other residences in Seattle, Tukwila and elsewhere.
According to charging documents, Truong admitted to orchestrating the marijuana grows. Several of his co-defendants are also alleged to have admitted to working for Truong; one man said Truong paid him $1,700 to $1,800 a pound for marijuana that he grew.
Truong and seven others have been charged with conspiracy to manufacture marijuana. All eight defendants are currently in custody and expected to appear Monday afternoon in U.S. District Court at Tacoma.
NewsHawk: MedicalNeed: 420 MAGAZINE
Source: seattlepi.com
Author: LEVI PULKKINEN
Contact: seattlepi.com / Hearst Seattle Media Staff Directory
Copyright: 1996-2010 Hearst Seattle Media, LLC
Website: Eight charged following Seattle-area marijuana raids
