Illegal marijuana grow busted in eastern Pueblo County

The Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office says an illegal marijuana grow complete with an elevator was found in a home east of Pueblo.

The home is located in the 40000 block of Highway 50 East, about 12 miles east of Pueblo.

The sheriff’s office says Juan Antonio Del Llano was arrested.

Some of the 120 marijuana plants found in the home were eight feet tall, according to the sheriff’s office.

$100,000 worth of grow-related equipment was also found in the home.

The sheriff’s office says there are also environmental concerns because chemicals were dumped from the grow into the ground.

That’s a big concern to surrounding farmers like Brian Bregar, who says the area has some of the most fertile soil in the state, capable of growing just about any vegetable.

“Down in the river, if you get all these chemicals, and a lot of the produce will pick up traces of the chemical, that’s not a good thing. It causes trouble for everybody,” he said.

Investigators say Del Llano provided paperwork allowing for an extended plant count for a medical grow, but that the paperwork was for an address in Pueblo West where an illegal grow was discovered last month.

Del Llano later told detectives that he was allowed to live in the home in exchange for caring for the plants.

The owners of the property live in Florida and also own property in Castle Rock.

Pueblo Regional Building deemed the electrical wiring in the house unsafe and shut off the electricity.

Del Llano faces charges for marijuana cultivation and possession with intent to distribute marijuana.

16 illegal marijuana grow operations have been found in Pueblo County since March 14.