Growhouses shut down

The Levy County Drug Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration officers have shut down two marijuana-growing operations in two Morriston homes.

Working on a tip out of Marion County, the officers had the house at 6550 S.E. 123rd Terrace in Morriston under surveillance on Aug. 26 when two trucks left the home. The officers, according to arrest reports, stopped the vehicles and detected the odor of marijuana coming from a plastic bag with clothing in it.

Jose Reyes, Alberto Traviesa and Julio Rodriguez were detained while officers went to the home, knocked and announced their presence. The officers' report says they also detected the odor of marijuana while at the front door.

A man identified as Leonel Roman came to the door, looked out and ran through the house, as officers gave chase. A second person hiding in the home identified the homeowner as Rodriquez.

The officers noticed the grow operation while searching the residence for more people inside the home.

After obtaining a search warrant for the home, the officers found a room modified with air conditioners, lights and plumbing. The first room off the living room was being used to dry buds from marijuana plants - about 150 pounds of buds.

Other areas of the home and a barn had also been similarly modified to accommodate growing plants with lighting, insulation sheets, and recirculating watering systems. While the plants had been harvested, the root balls of 221 plants, with some short stems attached were found.

In the second growing operation, the Levy Drug Task Force and DEA officers served a search warrant at the residence of Dania Lezcano Santana, 44, at S.E 138th Terrace in Morriston. The arrest report says the officers found 55 potted marijuana plants in a garage that had been converted for growing the plants, and 34 marijuana plants growing in a converted bedroom. The two rooms had indoor grow lamps, cooling and irrigation systems and insulation.

Charged in the two cases are:

Yulio Rodriguez, 28, of Southwest 129th Court, Miami, cultivation of marijuana, maintenance of a drug dwelling and trafficking in marijuana. Bail is $47,500.

Julio A. Rodriguez, 55, Southeast 123rd Terrace, Morriston, cultivation of marijuana, maintenance of a drug dwelling and trafficking in marijuana. Bail is $45,000.

Roman Leone;. Southwest 37th Street, Miami, cultivation of marijuana, maintenance of a drug dwelling and trafficking in marijuana. Bail is $47,500

Santana is charged with cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and maintaining a drug dwelling. Bond is $20,000.