Power theft leads to grow operation
TAMPA BAY, FLORIDA - Deputies seized nine marijuana plants worth $240,000 from a Cortez Avenue house and arrested a 34-year-old man who lived there.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said it got a tip that someone might be growing marijuana at the home of Michel A. Alvarez-Gonzalez.
When they arrived at the home about 4 p.m., deputies said they found two rooms had been fitted with lights, ballasts and fans, a secondary air conditioning unit had been installed, and the electric meter had been rigged to supply the machines with free electricity. The seized plants weighed a total of 62 pounds.
Alvarez-Gonzalez was charged with trafficking in marijuana, manufacture of marijuana, theft of electricity and possession for purpose of trafficking or selling.
He was being held in the Hillsborough County jail in lieu of $25,000 bail.
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Criminals posing as Toronto Hydro are sending out fraudulent messages
TORONTO - Toronto Hydro has sent out a notice that criminals posing as Toronto Hydro are sending out fraudulent texts, letters and emails.
The warning comes in a tweet, along with suggestions on how to protect yourself from fraud.
According to Toronto Hydro, fraudsters are contacting people by phone, text, email, fake electricity bills, and even travelling door-to-door.
They threaten to disconnect the power unless an immediate payment is made. The website states that in some cases, criminals request payment via pre-paid credit card or bitcoin.
It’s written on the website that Toronto Hydro does not accept these methods of payment, and they do…
