6 men charged in sophisticated pot growing operation
RICHMOND, Texas (KTRK) -- Six men have been charged in an illegal marijuana growing operation out of homes in Fort Bend and Harris counties.
Trong Vo, James Lai Nguyen and James Huy Nguyen were arrested after a months-long investigation by the Fort Bend County Narcotics Task Force.
Each faces several counts including felony drug possession.
Authorities also said three other suspects, who were not named, were arrested in Harris County and charged with felony charges of delivery of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana.
The sheriff's office says nearly 780 marijuana plants were found, along with weapons and cash.
Investigators described the scenes as sophisticated indoor growing operations with growing lights, scales, water pumps, and fans.
"It's kind of dangerous when you think about it," Paul Moreno, who lives near one of the homes said. "A lot of times when they have drugs, they have weapons as well. It might have come to a shootout if there was some kind of disagreement with what they were doing there."
Lorenzo Guevera, a friend of one of the suspects, told Eyewitness News his friend didn't deserve to be arrested.
"What year is it? 2017, right? Marijuana is nothing," Guevera said. "There's people out here who sell crack. There's people out here who shoot up meth in every vein that they can. I mean, come on now."
The operation was being run out of four separate residences.
The drugs seized have an estimated street value of more than $2 million.
