A Georgia Marijuana Grow Operation Dismantled, South Carolina Man Arrested

A sophisticated marijuana grow operation was discovered in Georgia, leaving a South Carolina man behind bars.

Yesterday afternoon, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, the Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office, South Carolina’s State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and Georgia’s Department of Public Safety executed search warrants in Georgia and South Carolina.

According to authorities with ARDEO, the grow operation, found on an abandoned dairy farm in rural Franklin County, is believed to have been in operation for five years.

Franklin County Authorities raided a fortified concrete structure that had reinforced doors with key pad entry along with a state of the art alarm and surveillance system.

Franklin County Authorities found 556 marijuana plants in various stages of growth along with an elaborate watering and lighting system that was attached to tracks suspended from the ceiling.

These tracks allowed the lighting system to move and evenly distribute light and heat to each plant.

The lights were controlled by a timer.

Some of the plants were hydrated through an automatic system and some had to be watered by hand.

SLED and Oconee County Sheriff’s Office then executed a search warrant at Wesley B. Lothery’s residence in Fair Play, South Carolina.

At Lothery’s residence, authorities uncovered nine more marijuana plants along with various items used in a grow operation.

This investigation revealed Lothery to be the caretaker of the marijuana grow operation in Georgia.

The street value of the marijuana plants is $565,000.

In Georgia, authorities have also seized three financial accounts associated with this operation.

Additional arrests are expected.