Carrollwood Pot Bust Nets $840,000 in Plants

Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputies shut down a marijuana grow house in the Carrollwood area yesterday.

According to a sheriff’s office media release, deputies executed a search warrant at 12501 Mondragon Drive April 25 around 9:25 a.m. When they went inside, they found about 40 plants weighing 280 pounds. They also discovered an irrigation system and an air circulation system for growing the plants.

The estimated street value of the plants is $840,000, the release said.

The home was also receiving unmetered electrical service from Tampa Electric Co. The estimated value of the electric theft is $18,000, the release said.

The home is within 50 feet of Hope International School.

Arrested were Elisabeth Guevara-Saavedra, 33, Raudel Gonzalez-Mesa, 34, and Lexiel Dominguez-Guevara, 18.

Guevara-Saavedra was charged with possession of marijuana, manufacture of marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, possession for purpose of trafficking and trafficking in marijuana.

Gonzalez-Mesa was charged with possession of marijuana, manufacture of marijuana, grand theft electricity, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, trafficking in marijuana and possession for purpose of trafficking.

Dominquez-Guevara faces charges of possession of marijuana, manufacture of marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, possession for purpose of trafficking and trafficking in marijuana.