Miami

Couple Ran Marijuana Grow House Out of Family Home: Miami-Dade Police

A Miami-Dade couple with two kids is facing charges after police said they ran a marijuana grow house out of their home.

Manny Dieguez, 39, and Ivette Montero, 29, were arrested early Thursday on several charges including marijuana trafficking, possession of marijuana with a minor present and selling or manufacturing marijuana, according to Miami-Dade Police reports.

"No. I just found out now I think it's terrible. I would've never expected that to happen in my neighborhood," said neighbor George Rosario.

According to the arrest reports, the Miami-Dade Police narcotics unit executed a search warrant at the home in the 5400 block of Southwest 92nd Avenue. Inside, they found a "fully functional marijuana hydroponics laboratory," the report said.

In the lab were 108 marijuana plants, weighing about 183 pounds, the report said. The alleged grow house was so elaborate police also accuse the couple of stealing electricity from Florida Power & Light to operate it.

"I don't know it's scary to think that somebody can keep that that quiet without anybody knowing about it," said neighbor Jason Blakey.

Dieguez and Montero had two children, a 2-year-old girl and 3-month-old boy, living in the home, the report said.

A separate stash of marijuana weighing about 50 grams was also found in the garage, the report said.

When officers searched the house they found infant and child clothing, pictures and mail inside, the report said.

"The fact that they have children and they would expose their kids to that is terrible. And obviously exposing the neighborhood it's horrible horrible to see that happen," Rosario said.

In bond court, the couple's attorney said the circumstances the facts of the case are misleading and that this pair had no idea what was going on, and that the home is actually a duplex.

"It's in a separate structure it's completely different. They had no access, it had a separate entrance, the children were not privy to anything that was there," the attorney said.

The children are staying with relatives while the Department of Children and Families investigates.

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