New grow house law targets landlords

Two weeks ago, an electric transformer blew in Lorida. Investigators found a diversion near the power meter - a cut PVC pipe, which led to a house with several air conditioning units, a water supply line made from garden hoses, and plant containers.

Detectives obtained a search warrant. Inside the residence they discovered 341 marijuana plants, grow lights, light bulbs, irrigation lines, fans, plant containers, carbon filters, CO2 generators and fertilizers.

It was marijuana grow house.

Laurence Carl Whalen, 57, of 340 Meadow Lane, Lorida, was charged with producing and trafficking marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia. However, Whalen told investigators he had been living in the house just three months.

Who, then, were the real culprits, the ones who bought or leased the house, and cut into the Glades Electric lines?

New law

In the spring legislative session, Rep. Denise Grimsley, who represents five counties in south-central Florida, convinced fellow representatives and senators to pass House Bill 29, which makes it a first-degree misdemeanor to permit tenants to connect utilities. Judges are required to accept an unpermitted electrical junction as proof of intent to violate the law. Stealing utility services to manufacture a controlled substance is also now a first-degree misdemeanor.

"There was a problem enforcing the law," said Grimsley, R-Lake Placid. "It's a huge issue."

"Oh, it's unbelievable," said Tommy Todd. "The one they busted in Lorida, it's one of the largest grow houses ever, for us."

How much electricity was stolen?

"Over $80,000," said Todd, the general manager of Glades Electric. "We're not sure how long they'd been going. It's not unusual for one to cost $50,000 or $60,000.

"The entire thing is extremely sophisticated. Most of them have automated electrical drip systems for the water and the fertilizer. They have lots of extra air conditioners," he said.

The diversion is wired so it appears the house uses a normal amount of electricity, Todd said, but the real monthly bill would be about $2,000 a month.

"Whoever does their work, they're absolute experts, on the low-voltage side and high-voltage side," Todd said.

In Hendry County - Glades Co-op services Hendry, Highlands, Glades and Okeechobee counties - deputies busted a drying house which Todd knows about because the occupants had also diverted electricity to operate huge fans.

"It was just like a tobacco drying barn," Todd said. "They have to have one drying house for about every 10 grow houses."

History

The grow house problem became known in 2006, when the Highlands County Drug Task Force and sheriff's special investigations unit busted the first one. In 30 months, about 80 houses have been taken down, more than 100 men and women have been arrested, and thousands of plants have been seized, worth millions of dollars.

And Capt. Randy LaBelle has continually said that the law enforcement community is just seeing the tip of the iceberg.

Initially, grow houses were found in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area. A few years ago, the cartel which operated the grow house ring - most with Cuban connections - moved north to Highlands County.

But lately, Todd said, "Highlands County is just third or fourth on the list."

In Glades Electric territory alone, Todd has seen a grow house bust on almost a weekly basis in 2008, costing Glades more than $1 million annually. Progress Energy's power theft investigator has been working in Volusia, Osceola, Orange, Polk and Highlands counties.

"They're finding grow houses all across our service territory," said Progress spokesperson Suzanne Grant. "That includes some fairly dense suburban areas."

"It's really costing our members," Todd said. "They're the ones who have to pay for it."

Rewards posted

Illegal electrical connections are also dangerous. In December, Glades Electric began offering $500 cash rewards for information that leads to the discovery of an illegal grow house operation. Call the Power Diversion Team Hotline at 863-946-6229. The caller's identity will be kept confidential.

"Progress Energy was a supporter of the bill and we're glad that it passed," said spokesperson Grant. "It strengthened the law on the books about power theft, and how very dangerous it is for the community."

Although they haven't had the chance to test it yet because it hasn't been signed into law by the governor, Todd expects HB 29 will also hold landlords responsible.

"Frankly, they have to be knowingly leasing property to these drug people," Todd reasoned. "They're digging additional wells, adding additional air conditioners. This allows us to hold the property owner responsible, if they are shown to have known what was happening."