2 arrested, 97 plants seized in illegal marijuana grows found in Pueblo homes

The Pueblo County Sheriff’s S.W.A.T. team executed search warrants Wednesday morning at homes in Pueblo West and arrested two men after finding 97 marijuana plants — valued at $97,000 — in separate illegal grow operations.

Colorado state law allows only 12 marijuana plants per home. Deputies do not believe the two grow operations are related.

Sheriff’s Detectives, assisted by the DEA, executed the warrants at a home in the 1200 block of N. Hill Lane and another in the 500 block of Autumn Drive after receiving separate citizen’s tips of possible illegal grow operations at those homes.

At the Hill Lane residence, deputies found 37 marijuana plants in various stages of growth inside the home. While searching the home, deputies saw the resident, 48-year-old Onil Ortega of Florida, attempting to hide some the plants underneath the stairs.

Ortega was arrested for cultivation of marijuana (more than 30 plants) and destruction of evidence.

At the Autumn Drive home, deputies found 60 marijuana plants growing in two rooms. The home’s resident, 30-year-old Brian Rodriguez, attempted to hide some plants in a crawl space of the home.

Rodriguez was arrested for cultivation of marijuana (more than 30 plants) and destruction of evidence.

Both suspects are booked into the Pueblo County Jail.

According to the release, this the second time in two years that deputies have checked the Autumn Drive address to check the status of a reported marijuana grow. In 2017, the grow was found to be in compliance with the state law at the time. In 2018, the state law changed, limiting only 12 marijuana plants per home.

Pueblo Regional Building responded to the residences and condemned both homes due to extensive alterations made to the electrical systems, said the press release.