Maria Prieto

Sgt. Larry King, a public information officer with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office today said that on Thursday, October 21 at around 7:55 a.m., a 911 operator received a call about a suspicious vehicle in Lehigh Acres. Deputies were dispatched to 734 Laramie Ave. in Lehigh.

When they arrived on the site, an unoccupied vehicle was found in the driveway of the vacant home, but no one was found in or near the vehicle, King said.

As deputies began to canvas the area, a woman was seen coming out of a wooded area. She was detained and questioned. The vehicle belonged to her and she was subsequently arrested and charged for loitering and prowling, King said.

Meanwhile, deputies had gone to 725 La Plata Ave. to contact the homeowner during the canvas. While approaching the front door, deputies said a strong odor of fresh marijuana was evident. Additionally, other indicators of a grow house operation were revealed, according to the deputies. As a result, detectives Narcotics Unit assumed the investigation.

A search warrant was obtained and upon entry of the house, an elaborate operation was found. One room contained a large amount of harvested drying plants as well as a number of live juvenile plants, King said. A second room was filled with adult plants ready for harvest.

In total, 58 live plants with a street value of $232,000 and 31 pounds of dried, harvested marijuana with a street value of $124,000 was confiscated by the Sheriff’s Office.

The entire residence and property was also being used to practice “Santeria,” a syncretic religion of Caribbean origin with Roman Catholic and Native Indian traditions often used by narcotic traffickers to ward off law enforcement and protect their investment; in this case their marijuana crop. The religion sometimes includes the practice of animal sacrifice, evidence of which was observed throughout the property, authorities said.

Maria De Payret Prieto, 49, of Miami, was charged with loitering and prowling. Officials said the investigation is continuing. More information will be released from the Sheriff’s Office, King said.