An airplane and 334 marijuana plants were seized from a Johnston County address on Thursday.
Following a joint investigation by the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office, NC ALE, and NC National Guard, agents raided an indoor marijuana growing operation located at 201 Graham Pond Road.
Authorities located John Mark Willden, 55, on the property. He was taken into custody and charged with manufacturing and trafficking marijuana.
Sheriff’s Narcotics Captain A.C. Fish said the marijuana plants, which weighed a total of 56 pounds, had a potential street value of $112,000. Officers said Willden was stealing electricity from Duke Energy to power the operation and more charges for that offense are anticipated.
Captain Fish said Willden served 5 years in prison for growing marijuana in Colorado before he moved to North Carolina.
He was given a $100,000 bond on Thursday’s charges.
The NC Department of Revenue reportedly seized an airplane frame, airplane engine, and 4 gliders, located on the property. Photos by John Payne
