The Raids Keep Coming...

Humboldt Drug Task Force raids SoHum grow houses, business

Donna Tam/The Times-Standard
Posted: 07/24/2009 01:15:15 AM PDT

The Humboldt County Drug Task Force led a raid Wednesday on three
suspected Southern Humboldt grow houses and a business, resulting in the
arrest of three residents.

Ann Edwards, 49, of Benbow, owner of Folk Art in Garberville, is
believed by authorities to be associated with all properties, according
to a press release. Edwards, along with Cheryl Cacopardo, 53, and Robert
Delgrande, 41, was arrested on suspicion of cultivation and possession
of marijuana for sale. They were booked into the Humboldt County Jail.

Financial documents have been seized from Edward's business.

Agent Jack Nelsen said additional search warrants are being served on
Edwards' financial accounts today. The task force is investigating
whether Edwards' business may have been laundering money related to the
grow houses.

"That's what we're looking at, is the possibility, we're not
alleging that at this point," he said. The task force has been
following the case for the last three or four months.

Agents, assisted by the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office, Eureka Police
Department and the Attorney General's Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement,
reportedly discovered a total of nearly 700 marijuana plants growing in
the residences located on the 7900 and 7400 Block of Benbow Drive, and
the 200 block of Fairway Drive.

When authorities arrived at the 7900 block residence, owned by Edwards,
officers reportedly saw a white man run from a greenhouse into a wooded
area.

The unidentified man was not located, but Edwards was taken into custody
without incident.

Officers located two greenhouses reportedly being utilized to cultivate
160 marijuana plants and numerous documents allegedly related to the
sales of marijuana inside the house. Officers found recently harvested
plants being processed in an additional structure on the property that
was being used as an indoor grow and processing area.

Officers also allegedly found approximately 10 pounds of marijuana
packaged and about 26 pounds still being processed, along with packaging
material and a triple beam scale.

Authorities arrested Cacopardo and Delgrande inside the residence on the
7400 block of Benbow Drive. Inside, authorities reportedly found a
loaded Glock 9mm handgun, a .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun,
approximately one pound of processed marijuana, scales, packaging
material and 174 indoor marijuana plants.

At the Fairway Drive property, also owned by Edwards, officers allegedly
found approximately 10 pounds of processed marijuana, packaging material
and 344 indoor marijuana plants.

Donna Tam can be reached at 441-0532 or dtam@times-standard .com.

http://www.times- standard. com/localnews/ ci_12905606