Deputies locate two grow houses; three arrested
On Wednesday, Dec. 17, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Division Narcotics Unit confirmed tips on two marijuana grow operations in the Lehigh Acres area of Lee County. The “grow houses” were located at 3815 17th St., West, and 805 Andover Avenue, South.
Contact was made with the occupants of each home and the ensuing investigation resulted in the arrest of three adults. Two children were found at one location resulting in the need to notify the Florida Department of Children and Families.
At the residence on 17th Street West, 41 marijuana plants with an estimated street value of $82,000 were recovered in what detectives describe as a “fully converted, large marijuana cultivation operation.” The only occupant, Carlos Leal Dominguez, 26, was charged with marijuana cultivation and felony possession of drug paraphernalia.
Meanwhile, at the other identified location on Andover Avenue South, 24 large harvestable marijuana plants with an estimated street value of $48,000 were seized. Arrested were the two residents, Carlos Blandon, 42, and Johana Tellez, 32. They have been charged for trafficking in marijuana, felony possession of drug paraphernalia, and marijuana cultivation, as well as two counts of child neglect by allowing their two children, ages 7 and 12, to live in the extremely dangerous environment of a grow house cultivation operation.
The children were removed from the home and turned over to a family member at the request of DCF. DCF will continue the investigation on the children’s well being.