cannabisnews.com: Men Stole Electricity To Grow Pot Men Stole Electricity To Grow Pot Posted by FoM on January 18, 2000 at 10:48:11 PT By The Associated Press Source: New York Times Authorities busted an elaborate hydroponic marijuana-growing scheme, saying the growers stole electricity from the local utility to power their operation. Francisco Dandraia, 46, and Frank Salinas, 33, used 1,000-watt halide lamps connected to timers, carbon dioxide generators and potent fertilizers in the growing operation, based in two commercial buildings, Suffolk County police said. Police seized about 50 pounds of high-grade marijuana that could be worth up to $250,000. Dandraia and Salinas avoided paying for electrical power by tapping into a Long Island Power Authority underground main line, police said. LIPA officials estimated that $50,000 worth of power was stolen over a year. The men, arrested Jan. 7, were charged with first-degree criminal possession of marijuana, a felony. They would face up to 15 years in prison if convicted. It was unclear whether they would be charged with theft of electricity, police said. Plants are grown hydroponically by placing their roots in liquid nutrient solutions instead of soil. HOLBROOK, N.Y. (AP)Published: January 18, 2000Copyright 2000 The New York Times Company Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #5 posted by Mad Hatter Matt on May 04, 2001 at 21:37:13 PT: my concerns about police are good pot is bad...... Hey Bob,You obviously never had anyone in your life desperatley depend on marijuana for medicinal relief or have you ever thought about the economical benefits and all of our precious resources we would be saving if we had hemp farms in the US.Cops aren't bad don't get me wrong but marijuana is no more dangerous than getting up and going to work every day as most of us do.Don't you think there are many more important things to do with your time like getting the real criminals off of our streets.You people lie about marijuana so much to our children when they finally try it they realize it was nothing how you folks made it out to be so then in turn they start trying other drugs thinking you lied to them about those too.So in fact marijuana is not a "Gateway drug" You people and your lies made them wonder.The bottom line hear is we are all adults so lets get our heads out of the stone age and realize this is 2001 and marujuana is here to stay.Let's make it a positive thing! [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by bob on April 26, 2001 at 09:33:47 PT: police police are good pot is bad [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Dr. Ganj on January 18, 2000 at 22:50:57 PT Shocking report! 50k worth of juice, eh? Let's break this down. $4,000 a month equates to (80) 1000 watt high pressure sodium lamps burning 12 hours/day. That of course is assuming the power is around 12 cents a kilowatt hour. Yeah, that's about right. Pretty ambitious farmers. I think they needed Farmers Insurance! Ha! Or better yet, a gnarly diesel generator out in the boonies. (See link below for you intrepid botanists)BTW, power loss in transit to our homes is factored in our utility bills, but, EXCESSIVE line loss can be traced, and I'll wager this is where these goons made their error.Lesson folks: learn from others' mistakes. It saves you money, and gives you your freedom.Before doing something like this, first, don't steal, and second, do it where if you get caught the time you get won't make you go gray. NY is obviously not too cool. Later that, and boogie to California-Northern.Cheers,Dr. Ganj Oh, one last thing...I went to trial today for a speeding ticket I got a couple of months ago. Although the rotten pig showed up in court and testified against me, and I lost, the lesson here is at least I exercised my rights, and made them take time and money to find me guilty. The fine was $77.00, but I felt I did my part to drag this porker into court at 6pm.I expect nothing less from all of you.If we all take every charge/case to trial, no matter what, we will see the end of this drug war. If you lose at trial, at least you can appeal the verdict. When you plea bargain, you lose all, especially your self respect.It takes courage to stand up to evil, but it must be done. http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles/thomsen43.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on January 18, 2000 at 14:07:09 PT I don't know I don't understand how anyone thinks they can steal from a power company. I really don't. That's way over my head. That's alot of electric $50,000! That would be like having an over $4000 a month elecric bill. That can't be right can it? [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by kaptinemo on January 18, 2000 at 12:17:57 PT Holes in their thinking box Jeez, how dumb can you get? Stealing power; didn't they think it wasn't monitored? It was probably the only thing that tipped off the goons.It's bad enough we live in a de facto police state. It's worse when growers become thieves. Granted, the power companies steal from *us* - those power stations have been paid for several times over since their construction, and the price of energy is pegged to an artificially high amount based upon sweet crude oil prices. But we don't have to emulate them. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: