Font ResizeOAKLAND — The suspected ringleader of a marijuana growing operation that stretched from Oakland to Mendocino County was one of four people arrested Wednesday night by police who also seized more than $250,000 in cash and at least $60,000 worth of pot, police said.
It was one of the largest and most sophisticated marijuana growing operations police have seen in recent years, they said.
Among the more unique details about the operation, Sgt. Bernard Ortiz said, was that suspected ringleader Theodore Christos had three houses in Oakland — each for a different part of the enterprise.
One house was for growing marijuana, the second was for conducting transactions with buyers, and the third was his residence in North Oakland, where records regarding the operation and possible lists of customers were found, police said.
Besides the Oakland locations, Ortiz said, Christos owns property in Mendocino County where authorities believe additional crop is grown.
Ortiz said the investigation started a few months ago, based on information developed by Officers Ercivan Martin and Marcel Patterson. They discovered that Christos was allegedly distributing huge amounts of marijuana. Surveillance led to the raids Wednesday night at the three Oakland sites.
Christos "had been underneath (law enforcement) radar," before the police investigation began, Ortiz said.
Ortiz said Christos was arrested about 7 p.m. Wednesday at a house
Ortiz said police believe Christos was selling the marijuana for at least $2,000 a pound and that the 15 pounds was actually grown in Mendocino. Authorities in Mendocino have been alerted, police said.
Working until early Thursday, officers also served a search warrant at a house in the 500 block of Crestmont Drive in Oakland, where two men who apparently worked for Christos were arrested and 151 marijuana seedling plants were seized as well as a revolver and more than $250,000 in cash that was in a duffle bag. The men's names were not released.
The grow site on Crestmont was very sophisticated, police said, with the latest watering, lighting and ventilation technology.
At Christos' residence in the 3500 block of Harrison Street, police found various records they believe document the operation.
The case has been turned over to the federal Drug Enforcement Administration and Ortiz said authorities will be moving to seize certain assets belonging to Christos, including bank accounts, vehicles and property.
Christos was arrested on suspicion of cultivation of marijuana, possession for sale and for sales of marijuana.
