The federal government took steps to seize a house where there was allegedly a large-scale marijuana grow, less than a week after a top federal prosecutor promised to continue the crackdown.
A house at 9 St. Albans Road in Corinna should be forfeited to the federal government because it was used during drug trafficking crimes, according to a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Bangor on Thursday.
On Friday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Darcie McElwee said there may still be about 100 illegal marijuana grow operations across the state after more than 40 have been shut down in recent months.
More than 3,770 marijuana plants were discovered in rooms throughout the Corinna house when the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant in February.
There was an extensive watering system set up throughout the house, along with exposed electrical wiring to accommodate the power needs, according to the complaint. Electricity bills from Central Maine Power for the two-story house cost up to $11,719 a month.
At its peak, the property used 44,331 kilowatt hours in July 2023, the complaint said. The average household uses 875 kilowatt hours per month.
The government is not asking the court to give it the authority to seize property at this time. It wants permission to enter the property to inventory and inspect. It will also post a notice of the action and serve anyone who can claim the property, according to the complaint.
Since the beginning of the year, police have busted a number of large growing operations found all over rural Maine. Grow houses have been found in Guilford and Sangerville in Piscataquis County; Corinna, Eddington and Passadumkeag in Penobscot County; Turner in Androscoggin County; Cornville, Harmony, Madison, Mercer, Norridgewock, Ripley and Skowhegan in Somerset County; Jay in Franklin County; Belgrade, China and Chelsea in Kennebec County; Jefferson and Whitefield in Lincoln County; and Belmont in Waldo County.
