Fabricio Fernando-Mendez of Lake Worth, Florida and Two Others were arrested Wednesday after they were accused of operating a marijuana grow house, news sources suggest. Jose Ricardo Figueroa-Sanchez and Gustavo Aguilar-Romero were identified as the other two suspects. Mendez, 20, Sanchez, 25, and Romero, 30, were booked into the Palm Beach County Jail on charges of marijuana trafficking and marijuana possession. Mendez was later released on a $30,000 bail bond; Romero on a $15,000 bail bond. Sanchez is being held on a $30,000 bail bond. It is unclear whether any of the defendants has hired a criminal defense lawyer.
According to reports, Mendez, Sanchez, and Romero operated the grow house at a home in the 6000 block of North Carthage Circle. It is currently unclear how detectives learned of the alleged marijuana operation. It is also unclear how long the three suspects have allegedly been growing marijuana inside the home.
On Wednesday, detectives stationed themselves outside the home and watched as Sanchez, Mendez, and another man identified as Jose Galindo-Martinez left the house and entered a black pickup truck. Romero remained at the home. Detectives tailed the truck and pulled it over. The detectives searched Mendez and found a piece of paper containing instructions on how to grow marijuana in his wallet. The officers arrested Mendez and Sanchez; they do not appear to have arrested Martinez.
The detectives returned to the home, went inside, and arrested Romero, reports say. Romero reportedly had remnants of marijuana on his clothes during his arrest. Inside the home, the detectives located three rooms dedicated to growing marijuana, a piece of paper with instructions on how to grow marijuana, and 75 marijuana plants. The living room and kitchen were the only two rooms within the home that did not contain growing equipment, reports allege. The living room held a mattress and appeared to be where the defendants slept.
While this home was allegedly used to grow marijuana, police located another home in Palm Beach County that was being used for an altogether different crime. Nathalie Heil of West Palm Beach was arrested Friday after she was accused of renting out her neighbor's empty home, sources report. Heil, 30, was booked into the Palm Beach County Jail on charges of grand theft and fraud. It is unclear whether she qualified for bail or hired legal representation.
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