Dennis RomeroBig busts last week for the L.A. County Sheriff's Department. We told you about a raid in Bassett, which authorities now say netted 1,900 plants — or $2 million worth.
Over the weekend came news of another pair of grows biting the dust, these in Alhambra and unincorporated San Gabriel. Sheriff's officials say this pair was worth $2.5 million.
Arrested was 30-year-old Joseph Hsu, who authorities said was connected to both locations, which included a commercial building as well as his own rented condo in the 9100 block of Huntington Drive in San Gabriel. It all came tumbling down …
… about 4 p.m Friday when sheriff's deputies served search warrants at the grows after a month-long investigation inspired by a tip of suspicious activity inside a
“consultant's office” in the 800 block of South Date Avenue in Alhambra, according to a sheriff's statement.
Cannibust.; Credit: LASD
Here's what authorities say they found:
… Deputies discovered a fully-operational indoor marijuana grow. Deputies dismantled the operation, seizing over 400 marijuana plants in different stages of growth. Approximately 100 pounds of dried marijuana and numerous pieces of hydroponic cultivation equipment were seized at that location.
At Hsu's home authorities said they found up to 50 pounds of weed, two handguns, a shotgun and a second suspect, 22-year-old Pauline McDonnell of Redlands, who was arrested on alleged drug violations and booked in lieu of $20,000 bail.
Hsu, who sheriff's officials say is a convicted felon, was booked on suspicion of drug and weapons violations and jailed in lieu of $35,000 bail.
The raid was carried out, in part, by the Sheriff's Asian Gang Team, and authorities have said many indoor grows — and let's note here that “hydroponic” cannabis is the weed of choice for L.A.'s burgeoning medical pot scene — are allegedly connected to organized crime.
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