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Fingerprints Lead To Grow Charges

Prints Link 2 Men To Grow Houses
By JOE SEELIG
Published: September 4, 2008

SEBRING - Two Sebring men were free on bail Wednesday, after sheriff's investigators say their fingerprints and palm prints were found inside of separate marijuana grow houses taken down in June and July by the sheriff's Special Investigations Unit.

"I can sum this case up in three words," said sheriff's Capt. Randy LaBelle. "Good police work."

The first grow house was taken down on June 2 at 6302 Apple Road, in Sebring, according to sheriff's arrest reports.

Deputies discovered both alive and harvested plants weighing about 34 pounds, along with an active grow house operation with grow lights, special generators, irrigation equipment and air conditioning.

The second grow house was raided on July 18 at 4416 Jaguar Drive, in Sebring. There, deputies found 130 live plants weighing 69 pounds, growing in two rooms with air conditioning, 28 light hoods for grow lights, reflective materials covering the walls, a water source and a power diversion.

Initially arrested and charged with marijuana production and trafficking in connection with the Apple Road grow house were Danilo Marcelo Vasallo-Luis, 55, of 6302 Apple Road, and Hansel Cruz Vasallo, 23, of 4600 Hammond Blvd., Sebring.

During the investigation of the Apple Road crime scene, deputies investigated two utility trailers on the property. One was registered to Hansel Vasallo and the second was registered to Duniesky Vasallo, 28, of 4316 Shamrock St., Sebring, the report stated.

No evidence was found when deputies went to Duniesky Vasallo's home on Shamrock Street, but a water diversion and power diversion were discovered at Apple Road and both utilities were in Duniesky Vasallo's name, the report stated.

On July 20, Duniesky Vasallo was charged with marijuana production and possession of drug equipment in connection with the Jaguar Drive grow house. On July 25, his fingerprints were located at the Apple Road grow house, linking him to that case, the report stated.

When deputies were searching Duniesky Vasallo's home at 4316 Shamrock, a neighbor, Lisvanys Sormeller, 31, of 4701 Shamrock St., Sebring, approached them. His curiosity aroused the investigators' interest.

Sormeller was charged Tuesday with marijuana producing, marijuana trafficking in excess of 25 pounds or 300 plants or more and possession of narcotics equipment, when his finger and palm prints were reportedly discovered on insulation board inside the Apple Road grow house.

His prints were already on file for a previous arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI) and DUI with property damage, on April 5.

The prints were consistent with someone holding up the boards while they were being secured to the wall, the report stated. He was freed on $16,000 bail.

Rearrested on Tuesday on new charges was Hansel Vasallo, 23, on charges of grand theft $10,000 or more but less than $20,000, fraud - tampering with or theft of utilities or cable services, marijuana producing, trafficking in marijuana in excess of 25 pounds or 300 plants or more and possession of narcotics equipment.

Hansel Vasallo's fingerprints and palm prints were found on materials used to construct the Jaguar Drive grow house, the arrest report stated.

He was freed on $18,000 bail on the new charges.

His bondsman went off bond on his June 3 arrest charges of marijuana production, trafficking in marijuana and possession of narcotics equipment. That $138,500 bail was reinstated when he paid the $18,000 bail, according to sheriff's central records.

According to the arrest report, Sormeller is married to Duniesky Vasallo's cousin and related to Hansel Vasallo by marriage. Hansel Vasallo is possibly a cousin to Duniesky Vasallo, the report stated.

Sormeller and Duniesky Vasallo live about two blocks from the Jaguar Drive grow house.

Duniesky Vasallo's father-in-law and mother-in-law, who have not been charged, own the Jaguar Drive property but were renting it to an unknown subject, the report stated.
 

Bababooey

Horse-toothed Jackass
Veteran
It's a wonder this doesn't happen more often. You sometimes read about grows where when they busted it no one was there (like that grow in that mall in Florida for example). So the people responsible escape arrest, good for them :rasta: but then they've probably left thousands of fingerprints on all the equipment! The reflectors, the pots, hoses, plastic sheeting, ph meters, nutrient bottles, etc etc.
I guess you could wear latex gloves all the time, although that gets to be a pita because sweat tends to build up in them, especially if you're doing manual labor.
It's too much, sometimes, I tell ya, the things we have to do... :fsu:
 

zingablack

livin my way the high way
Veteran
what about those ident a kid cards they have your fingerprint in their record which the police probably get somehow.
 
W

Wunderkind

yep, I did one of those when I was a little kid. It's strictly for parents to keep incase the child goes missing or kidnapped.
 
W

Whatever

EasyBakeIndica said:
You don't have much to worry about, if you've never arrested.

They build up their database by booking people.
From what I understand...yup. I've been told state driver's license databases are off limits to an open check and someone needs a warrant to look into something specific in that database...but don't know really.

Good thing I was fingerprinted long before computers existed...lol.
 

Doctor Who

Member
EasyBakeIndica said:
You don't have much to worry about, if you've never arrested.

They build up their database by booking people.
A lot of people are fingerprinted for background checks for work and/or security clearances.
 

Doctor Who

Member
Whatever said:
From what I understand...yup. I've been told state driver's license databases are off limits to an open check and someone needs a warrant to look into something specific in that database...but don't know really.

Good thing I was fingerprinted long before computers existed
...lol.
If you have ever been fingerprinted, even with ink and cards you are in the system. Most jails use electronic finger print scanners to lift your prints and they can print them on cards if needed. Also, if you commit a felony they will still ink you and print you the old way. The FBI prefers them done that way for their database for violent/dangerous offenders. Some people, especially older individuals who have worn prints have to be printed with ink with a little lotion on their hands to build up the ridges.
 
Doctor Who said:
A lot of people are fingerprinted for background checks for work and/or security clearances.

True, and a lot of states require a fingerprint to get a driver's license.

Only fingerprints taken from "arrested individuals" are allowed to be used in search of suspects.

Actually, The OPM (Office of Personel Management) handles all of the military and most of the corporate security clearances/background checks.

https://www.opm.gov/fedclass/gs0072.pdf
 

Bababooey

Horse-toothed Jackass
Veteran
This is a lot of good information. You guys probably know more about fingerprinting than your average cop. :rasta:
 
Y

yamaha_1fan

For the guys whose only link is fingerprints, I think they get off with a good attorney. Yes they were in the room but there is no time frame and no proof they were in there when something illegal happened.

Hell there prints could be on the tables, pumps etc. I think they could openly admit they helped build the room for a tomato room. There is no proof they were associated with the MJ.

JMO

And if your fingerprints were taken on a card before computers, I dont think that matters. I would assume some little twerp making $10/HR is scanning those into a master database.

Florida DOC takes DNA samples from inmates if they meet certain criteria.
 
B

Bubble Puppy

For all the people that get caught stealing water and power ,i always wonder how many actually get away with it?
 
yamaha_1fan said:
For the guys whose only link is fingerprints, I think they get off with a good attorney. Yes they were in the room but there is no time frame and no proof they were in there when something illegal happened.

Hell there prints could be on the tables, pumps etc. I think they could openly admit they helped build the room for a tomato room. There is no proof they were associated with the MJ.

JMO

I agree completely, and also think a good attorney could help get these charges dropped. The prosecutors are making it sticky with some kind of BS "possession of narcotics equipment" charge, which is a state law that seems to be unique to Florida. This is what they've been charging people who they catch with a grow-op, but no plants. It's different than paraphernalia charges and seems to be isolated to grow equipment/chemistry lab equipment.

Again, a good attorney should be able to fight this case, because the defendant doesn't have to prove he was using it for legal purposes. The burden lies on the prosecution to prove criminal intent, and there are plenty of legal uses for having grow equipment.
 

ChaosCatalunya

5.2 club is now 8.1 club...
Veteran
In the UK everything the Police seem to do is for DNA .. ... I am not even sure they bother getting out the magnesium powder to dust for prints anymore.

FYI Bleach kills the DNA traces that the forensics love and a few carefully placed cigarettes/drink cans with other peoples DNA on, left around the grow can throw the bad guys well off the scent......

FTP !
 
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