United States Drug Enforcement Administration

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Shihong Chen, 51, of Elk Grove, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller to one year and one day in prison for growing marijuana inside homes in Elk Grove and Sacramento, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge John J. Martin announced.

According to court documents, Chen participated in scheme to grow marijuana inside homes in Sacramento and Elk Grove. On January 30, 2013, law enforcement executed federal search warrants at seven residential homes in Sacramento County, including the four houses where Chen cultivated marijuana: 9761 McKenna Drive, Sacramento; 8270 Cliffcrest Way, Sacramento; 8108 Gwerder Court, Elk Grove; and 3713 45th Avenue, Sacramento. Altogether, authorities seized more than 1,000 plants.

The investigation started when law enforcement learned of abnormally high power consumption at 8646 Everidge Court in Sacramento, owned by Green Ventures LLC. During their investigation, law enforcement observed Oakland-based real estate agent Zhiqiang Liu traveling frequently to and from the Everidge Court house. On January 30, 2013, law enforcement executed a federal search warrant at Everidge Court and found 867 growing marijuana plants, approximately 31.8 kilograms of cultivated marijuana, and $7,070 in cash.
Chen is the fifth and final defendant to be sentenced in this case. Four other defendants have been sentenced:

1. March 23, 2016, Zhiqiang Liu was sentenced to three years in prison.
2. March 16, 2016, Jun Mou Peng was sentenced to one year and one day in prison.
3. October 28, 2015, Qinghong Li was sentenced to one year and one day in prison.
4. December 17, 2015, Huanhao Chen was sentenced to one year of probation.

This case was the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Elk Grove Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Christiaan Highsmith prosecuted the case.