A $20,000 bench warrant has been issued for a Centralia woman allegedly connected to an illegal marijuana growing site in Centralia that has possible ties to other illegal operations throughout the state and a distribution market in New York.
Detectives with the Joint Narcotic Enforcement Team (JNET) served a search warrant for an address in the 1000 block of Duffy Street in Centralia on Feb. 24, 2020, and found 770 growing marijuana plants, along with equipment for growing large amounts of marijuana indoors.
Four people — the residence’s two occupants, Chunjian Sun and Shibo Jin, along with a Seattle real estate agent who allegedly helped sell the property, Xiao Yu Jackson, and the property’s owner, Peiqiao Cheng — were each charged last month with manufacture of marijuana and unlawful use of a building for drug purposes.
According to an alleged statement by Jackson, quoted in the affidavit of probable cause, Cheng purchased the Duffy Street property “with the express purpose of growing marijuana.”
Cheng was also allegedly seen attempting to pay $5,000 in cash to the Lewis County PUD to cover energy costs associated with the growing operation, and video footage reportedly shows Cheng being told that the PUD could not accept that much cash, leaving the building and then returning with Jin, who then paid the balance with a credit card.
According to an alleged statement by Jackson, the Duffy Street operation was one of multiple Washington marijuana grow sites manned by “farmers,” who are paid between $3,000 and $5,000 a month to live in the house and take care of the growing plants.
After the “farmers” harvest the marijuana, “transporters” reportedly transport the finished product to New York, where it is distributed.
While Sun, Jin and Jackson each had their preliminary appearances in Lewis County Superior Court in late February, Cheng’s was scheduled for March 9. Because Cheng did not respond to a court summons sent to the Duffy Street address, Judge J. Andrew Toynbee issued a bench warrant for her arrest.
There are also active warrants out for Sun and Jin. Jackson has pled not-guilty to all charges and has a jury trial scheduled for Oct. 25.
