According to law enforcement authorities with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, a 49-year-old man was taken into custody after more than $1 million worth of marijuana was found inside his home. The raid and subsequent arrest occurred on Jan. 16.
News sources reported that detectives executed a search warrant that was issued by the court on a home in Valrico. Inside, the officers reportedly found that two rooms had been converted for the cultivation of marijuana. Officers seized 41 cannabis plants with a combined weight of 522 pounds. Officials from Tampa Electric discovered an illegal electrical connection and reported that $7.713.57 worth of electricity had been stolen to power the grow operation.
The 49-year-old man was charged with trafficking marijuana between 25 and 2,000 pounds, possession of marijuana with the intent to sell, maintaining a place for drug use, grand theft in the third degree, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance. Officers allege that the street value of the cannabis was $1.044 million.
People who are facing charges of drug sales may face substantial penalties if they are convicted as charged. If they are charged in federal court, the penalties may be even more substantial. Getting help from an experienced drug charges law firm with attorneys who practice in both state and federal court may be important. An experienced drug crimes lawyer might be more familiar with the different procedures used in state and federal cases. Legal counsel might also be able to identify issues in the prosecution’s case that could be used to craft a strong defense.