News
National Arrest Warrants Issue In Perry County Marijuana Bust
By: Taylor Pool
Posted on:
Nationwide arrest warrants have been issued for a pair of Mexican Nationals after being indicted by a Perry County grad jury.
The indictments stem from the August 1, 2008 seizure of nearly 6,000 marijuana plants in a rural area off of Harrison Township Road 208 near Crooksville.
Jose Guadalupe Lopez, 43, and Carlos Alvarado Martinez, 20, are charged with second degree felony counts of cultivation of marijuana.
Officers say they found fully mature marijuana plants with an estimated street value of $9 million.
The plants were discovered during a helicopter search in Perry County.
Deputies say Lopez and Martinez were living amongst these plants and took off as law enforcement officers descended on their fields.
They say they found their encampment complete with tents, a large supply of food and other outdoor camping supplies.
Investigators say they were able to locate fingerprints and DNA evidence to identify Martinez and Lopez as the growers.
Once captured, the two will be extradited back to Perry County.
If convicted, each faces up to eight years in prison.