WAYCROSS — Eight Chinese nationals face life in federal prison after the Department of Justice (DOJ) uncovered “massive” marijuana farms “hidden in plain sight” in Brantley County and neighboring Pierce County in February 2024.
All eight are charged with major drug crimes in connection to one of the biggest drug busts in state history. The charges include Possession With Intent to Distribute more than 1,000 marijuana plants, according to Jill E. Steinberg, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
A conviction on the charge carries a minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, up to life, along with fines of up to $10 million and at least five years of supervised release upon completion of any prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
“This investigation alleges the discovery of a massive clandestine operation illegally growing marijuana on two locations hidden in plain sight,” said U.S. Attorney Steinberg. “Our exceptional law enforcement partners identified these illicit operations and are working to hold these defendants accountable.”
These operations were so large and cleverly hidden, one was disguised as fish farms. Law enforcement seized over 11,000 plants in this significant bust, highlighting the alarming sophistication behind illegal cannabis production.
The defendants indicted in USA v. Huang et al. include Hiawen Huang, 54; Yim Hung Yuen,61; Chen Hui Shu, 35; Jen Peng Ma, 34; Zhu Sheng Bing, 64; Wei Sheng Deng, 42; Lecai Huang, 67; and, Zhi Yong Ma, 52.
In addition to the conspiracy and drug possession charges, Shu, Ma, Bing, and Deng also are charged with Possession of Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime. Similarly, Lecai Huang and Ma are charged with a separate count of Possession of Firearms in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.
Hiawen Huang and Yim Hung Yuen are believed to have left the United States. The remaining defendants made their initial appearance hearings in U.S. Magistrate Court and await further court proceedings.
An approximate total of 15,500 marijuana plants were seized during the operation with a street value of $22.5 million.
More than 11,000 marijuana plants were siezed at the Pierce County location, authorities said. Approximately 4,500 plants were seized at the residence in the Atkinson community in an indoor growing operation, they said The arrests took place February 23, 2024 after the execution of a search warrants.
The Brantley County 27-acre tract site was at 2804 Hwy. 110 East near Elbert Wilson Road and Plantation Circle in the Atkinson Community with at least 10 ponds.
Approximatley 4,500 marijuana plants were confiscated by law enforcement with an estimated street value of $8.8 million.
Brantley County officials also found items in a shed behind Simons Restuarant on Main Street in Nahunta during the search. Sheriff Len Davis said the items were connected to the operation on Hwy. 110 East.
“This was the biggest operation I have ever seen and is a very sophisticated one,” Davis said of the Atkinson community site following the February 23 arrests. “We didn’t find any drugs in Nahunta, but we did find things to link to Hwy. 110.”
The Pierce County site was 52 acres on two tracts north of Patterson. One consists of eight acres just north of Cal-Maine and the other is 44 acres with as many as five ponds on the property. The property line between the two runs through the middle of one of the ponds.
According to Qpublic Brantley and Qpublic Pierce, the property is believed to be linked to HG LLC of Staten Island, N.Y., under the name Huang Haiwan.
The marijuana operations were believed by law enforcement officials to be tied to a national organized crime operation. The suspects have ties all the way from New York City to Houston and were possibly part in a much larger drug ring.
The case was initiated by the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office and also investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Brantley County Sheriff’s Office, and is being prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patricia G. Rhodes and Darron J. Hubbard.
