Officials: $203,000 in marijuana seized

Published: Thursday, September 25, 2008 at 7:22 a.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, September 25, 2008 at 8:30 a.m.

City code enforcement officials checking a condemned house in west Santa Rosa for signs of illegal occupation stumbled on a large marijuana growing operation and processed marijuana worth more than $200,000, authorities said.

A man at the Madera Avenue house, Donaciano Fabela Milanes, was arrested on suspicion of cultivating marijuana and possessing marijuana for sale, police Sgt. Steve Fraga said.

Milanes, 53, was living at the residence off South Wright Road without authorization, Fraga said.

Police found 85 marijuana plants ranging from 4 to 6 feet tall and seized 58 pounds of processed marijuana, he said.

Sonoma County Sheriff's Sgt. Chris Bertoli, who heads the county Narcotics Task Force, said a pound of processed marijuana nets about $3,500 locally, putting the value of the manicured pot at $203,000.

Milanes was booked into the Sonoma County Jail, where staff said an immigration hold prohibits him from being released on bail.
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20 ... ana_seized