SAN JACINTO (CNS) – Deputies serving search warrants at four San Jacinto homes today found two-and-one-half tons of marijuana, 4,901 plants and the equipment used to grow it wired to bypass electrical meters and avoid paying for the utility leading to the arrest of a Rosemead man.

The warrants were served at about 10 a.m. at the four residences, according to Riverside County sheriff’s Sgt. Julio Olguin..

“During the warrant service, a total of approximately 4901 plants were eradicated from these residences along with 110 pounds of processed marijuana,” Olguin said. “A total combined weight of approximately two and a half tons of marijuana was collected from these locations.”

The deputies also collected 80 fans, a large amount of packaging, 145 lights and two air conditioning units, among other equipment.

They discovered evidence of an effort to avoid paying for the electricity used in the alleged illegal indoor marijuana grow houses.

“Edison responded and located an illegal by-pass underneath the electrical meters at all four indoor grows,” Olguin said. “The estimated total theft of utilities is $280,000.”

Coe Hoc Phung, 45, of Rosemead was arrested for suspicion of maintaining a drug house, theft of utilities, marijuana cultivation and marijuana sales, the sergeant said.

He was booked into the Cois Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta where he was held in lieu of $100,000 bail, according to sheriff’s inmate records.

Olguin explained the sheriff’s department’s zero tolerance policy as protecting the quality of life for people in the community. “Indoor marijuana cultivation negatively impacts the neighborhoods, property value and environment. It diminishes and poisons the water table and pesticides adversely affecting the health of neighboring residents.”