Florida man busted for growing nearly 1,000 marijuana plants in Colorado

Colorado authorities seized nearly 1,000 marijuana plants and almost $1 million worth of dried weed in the arrest of a Florida man accused of running an illegal grow operation.

The Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office said its investigators took Lazaro Piloto-Gomez into custody last Wednesday after getting a tip about possible illegal drug activity in a rural part of the state.

After the 57-year-old Florida resident fessed up to having more than 12 marijuana plants on his property, detectives returned with a warrant to search two detached outbuildings and a home, the sheriff’s office said.

Weed is legal in Colorado, but state law prohibits more than 12 marijuana plants per household.

According to the sheriff’s office, one large outbuilding had 939 weed plants inside and almost 10 pounds of dried marijuana product valued at about $969,000, according to the sheriff’s office.

In a smaller detached garage, another 20 plants were found, as well as equipment and supplies usually used for packing and distributing weed, authorities said.

The home and outbuildings were both condemned because the electrical system was altered, authorities said.

Piloto-Gomez faces a charge of cultivation manufacturing of marijuana with intent to distribute over 50 pounds. The probe into the operation was continuing.