Las Vegas: Man Caught by Police After Putting His Marijuana Crop on YouTube
A husband and wife were busted by Las Vegas authorities Friday in an illegal marijuana grow operation after discovering the crops had been seen in videos posted by the husband on YouTube. Jason and Stephanie Pelletier, both 35, were arrested by police after a search of their rental home turned up 67 plants, according to Metro Police Lt. Laz Chavez.
Original reports of findings in the one-story house, located near the intersection of Robindale and Paradise roads, said that around 200 plants were growing there, but Chavez said the officers believe that the majority of the plants were harvested Wednesday or Thursday, since they also found 6.5 pounds of dry marijuana at the Pelletier's home.
Most of the plants were stored in the garage but also in a few bedrooms and storage areas in the house, police said.
The anonymous tip told officials that videos in which an individual gives a visual tour to viewers of a large space that is filled with what appears to be marijuana plants. The person on-camera discusses their growth conditions in several videos over past months, but in a video shared Aug. 16 the poster, Buddynuggets78, let it slip that a recent move to Las Vegas had affected the operation.
After determining the videos were legitimate, the Southern Nevada Cannabis Operation and Regional Enforcement team searched the Pelletier's house about a week and a half later, Chavez said.
Quiet neighborhoods have becoming a marijuana growing haven recently, Chavez said. He added that neighbors regularly help by notifying police.
"They've helped us out substantially," Chavez said. "The tips have been coming in pretty regularly now."
The couple was charged with possession with intent to sell, manufacturing marijuana and possession of marijuana. According to Chavez, Jason Pelletier has a long criminal history including gun and drug charges in multiple states while Stephanie Pelletier has a nonviolent criminal history.
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