Pot, guns seized at 2 Modesto homes - Crime & Courts - Modbee.com

Pot, guns seized at 2 Modesto homes - Crime & Courts - Modbee.comMODESTO -- Two indoor marijuana growing operations, illegal weapons and 2,000 rounds of ammunition were seized from homes in west and east Modesto this week thanks to one anonymous tip, police said.
The tip to Crime Stoppers led Modesto police officers from the Crime Reduction Team to the 1100 block of Courtney Way on Monday morning, according to Lt. Rick Armendariz.
During a search of the home, officers found an indoor growing operation with 364 pot plants of various sizes and stages of maturity. One mature pot plant typically yields 1 pound of processed marijuana, Armendariz said.



(MPD) - Monday June 14 Ð at about 10:30 a.m. - All this was found at Larry Escobedo's house 364 pot plants in different stages of growth - six guns - five handguns and a few long rifles Mac-11 were seized from 1100 block of Courtney Way in Modesto. At Gerardo Montoyo's house on Wednesday in the 2600 block of El Pasado officers recovered 18 pounds of processed marijuana and 100 plants in different stages of growth. The resident was also illegally tapping into power.
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Also in the home were five handguns, two rifles and ammunition. Two of the handguns were stolen and one of the guns was an illegal Mac-11 semi-automatic sub-machine gun with a 30-round magazine and a silencer, Armendariz said.

On Wednesday morning, officers searched that house and found an indoor marijuana growing setup, with 100 plants as well as 18 pounds of processed marijuana and a rifle, Armendariz said. The 18 pounds of processed marijuana has a street value of $45,000 to $54,000, according to Armendariz


.Escobedo also is suspected of stealing power from the Modesto Irrigation District to run the operation, which amounted to about $3,000 a month.


Also arrested was Gerardo Montoya, 32, on suspicion of cultivation, possession and sale of marijuana, felony power theft and being a felon in possession of a firearm.