The Farmington Daily-Times reports that four people have been arrested after an Aug. 8 pot bust, executed with assistance from the U.S. Marshals, of two licensed medical marijuana producers.
Region II Narcotics Task Force agents arrested four people Tuesday following the seizure of 96 marijuana plants earlier this month at a West Hammond residence owned by two licensed medical marijuana growers.
Shamay Bullington, 21, Rebecca Hunt, 46, Phillip Trujillo, 47, and Jody Ellis, 24, faces charges of racketeering, distribution of marijuana, conspiracy and possession of drug paraphernalia, Lt. Neil Haws said.
The marijuana sold for $3,500 per pound, Haws said.
Agents seized the plants, all in various stages of growth, from the West Hammond residence owned by Trujillo and Hunt on Aug. 8. Both are licensed medical marijuana growers, Haws said.
Their license, however, allows them to grow four mature plants, 12 seedlings and to possess 6 ounces of usable marijuana for each license.
Agents found four different grow locations at the residence, including a greenhouse and a barn. Several plants also were hidden in rose bushes in the yard, Haws said.
Assisted by the U.S. Marshals and Farmington Fire Department’s Hazmat team, agents seized all of the plants and cultivation equipment because of the misuse of the license.
The Farmington City Council voted last December to place a moratorium on the number of medical marijuana permits. Local police reportedly staked out the area for two months. They arrested Burlington in a traffic stop with 1.5 pounds of marijuana in her car with her two infant children. She was also charged with three counts of child endangerment.
The New York Times recently reported on much smaller amounts of marijuana being used in civil child neglect cases, leading to some parents losing custody of their children despite not being charged with even a misdemeanor.
