Dad, son busted for $80,000 in marijuana (Collier County, Florida)

Dad PEDRO RAMON MESA was just bonding with his son, right? Unfortunately, their "bonding" involved an illegal drug business with at least $80,000 worth of marijuana.

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/aug/26/father-son-busted-80000-worth-marijuana-estates-ho/

Father, son busted with $80,000 worth of marijuana in Estates home
By Naples Daily News staff report

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

COLLIER COUNTY — A 77-year-old father and his son are facing felony charges after deputies say they found $80,000 worth of marijuana inside a residence in Golden Gate Estates.

Sheriff deputies arrested Pedro Ramon Mesa and his 36-year-old son Rolando Mesa after executing a search warrant at 465 DeSoto Blvd. around 5 p.m. Tuesday, reports said.

The pair were inside the residence, which is owned by Pedro Mesa, when the warrant was executed, reports said.

Once inside, deputies discovered a room in the residence that was being used to grow marijuana.
Reports said the room contained 20 marijuana plants that had just been harvested and were in the drying process.

The room also contained equipment commonly used to grow marijuana indoors, including power transformers, high-intensity light bulbs, an extra cooling unit, and buckets. There was also a harvesting machine used to cut the plants, reports said.

The report says the marijuana weighed 27.95 pounds and had an estimated street value of $80,000. The narcotic equipment was valued at $9,000, reports said.

Both Pedro and Rolando Mesa were charged with trafficking more than 25 pounds of marijuana or 300 plants and possession of narcotic equipment.

Since January, Sheriff’s Office officials said deputies have shut down 16 growhouses and confiscated 811 plants with a total estimated street value of $2,453,000. The majority of the busts have been in Golden Gate Estates.