cannabisnews.com: Police Seize Marijuana in Manteca





Police Seize Marijuana in Manteca
Posted by FoM on January 25, 2000 at 09:46:55 PT
By Ken Carlson, Bee Staff Writer
Source: Modesto Bee
A well-known businessman was arrested Monday after police said they found a large marijuana-growing operation in his home and seized $326,000 in pot.  David Allan Willson, 38, of Manteca faces felony charges of cultivating marijuana and possession of marijuana for sale. He is out on bail, and his arraignment is scheduled later this week in San Joaquin County Superior Court in Manteca. 
 Willson owns and operates Willson Paving in Manteca. He and his wife, Lisa Marie "Sam" Willson, also own Sam's Body Works, a fitness gym on North Main Street. She has not been charged.  "Her case is being referred to the district attorney's office," said Rex Osborn, Police Department spokesman. "(David Willson is) accepting all the responsibility for the (seized) property, but the district attorney will see if that's logical."  Police obtained a warrant to search the couple's Tinnin Road home, off Woodward Avenue, after someone gave an anonymous tip to officer Scott Bratton, according to Osborn.  Narcotics officers went to the home at about 1 p.m. Monday and found an elaborate greenhouse in the two-car garage.  Officers said they seized 150 marijuana plants, ranging from ready-to-harvest bushes to seedlings. Each plant was capable of producing $2,000 in pot, police said.  Inside the home, officers said they found 13 quarter-pound bags of processed marijuana worth an estimated $2,000 apiece. They also seized $3,000 in cash and 10 firearms, including pistols, rifles and shotguns.  Manteca authorities called it the city's largest marijuana seizure in at least 15 years.  Police officers found Lisa Marie Willson at home and said she cooperated with the search. Officers called David Willson on his cellular telephone and summoned him to the house, where he was taken into custody without incident.  The couple have two daughters, 15 and 16, and a 19-year- old son, all living at home.  Willson said he was growing the plants for medicinal purposes, adding, "I made $1.5 million last year, why do I need to sell pot?"  Detectives will investigate whether the couple might have been financing their businesses with the alleged drug proceeds.  "They are very successful businesses," Osborn said of the construction operation and the gym. "If you have that much marijuana you can sell, the potential is you financed your businesses with it. As of right now, we don't have anything to say it's connected."  MANTECAPublished: January 25, 2000Copyright © The Modesto Bee. Related Web Site:Forfeiture Endangers American's Rightshttp://www.fear.org/
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Comment #2 posted by Dr. Ganj on January 25, 2000 at 21:58:36 PT
More Inflated Figures
Oh, please. $2,000 for a quarter pound?! $2,000 a plant INDOORS! Yeah, right. $326,000 for 150 plants grown in a garage! Ha! It's erroneous numbers like these that MOTIVATE others to jump on the ganja train. It seems everyone I know has a growroom now. The war has been lost. Go after real crime you rotten porkers.Dr. Ganj
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Comment #1 posted by Dave in Florida on January 25, 2000 at 17:20:33 PT
$ Dollar Signs $
-Willson said he was growing the plants for medicinal purposes, adding, "I made $1.5 million last year, why do I need to sell pot?"-  No reason -Detectives will investigate whether the couple might have been financing their businesses with the alleged drugproceeds. - The wheels are turning !- "They are very successful businesses," Osborn said of the construction operation and the gym. "If you have that muchmarijuana you can sell, the potential is you financed your businesses with it. As of right now, we don't have anythingto say it's connected." -  Yea, right now, I am sure they will come up with some reason to use forfiture.
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