Agent's Surprising Find in REO Leads to 5 Arrests
A real estate agent’s discovery of marijuana growing in a bank-owned home he was listing in Elk Grove, Calif., eventually led police to three other pot houses and five arrests.

Police recovered more than 1,000 marijuana plants from the homes. Also at two of the properties, the marijuana growers had run wiring around the meters to steal electricity, according to police reports.

Despite the police sting, the real estate agent was still able to get the house sold, even for above asking price, and warnings to would-be buyers that the house was a “marijuana grow farm” didn’t seem to serve as a deterrent. The agent sold the property two months following the investigation for $188,000 in just eight days for $8,000 over the asking price.

Source: “Realtor’s Pot House Discovery Leads to 5 Arrests,” News10.net (April 7, 2011)