News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 24, 2004
CONTACT: 214-659-8707

Five Homes Near White Rock Lake In Dallas Forfeited To Government In Local Drug Investigation

United States Attorney Richard B. Roper, Northern District of Texas, announced that a federal judge in Dallas has ordered that five Dallas homes located in Little Forest Hills near White Rock Lake be forfeited to the United States. The Honorable Ed Kinkeade, United States District Judge, entered a final order of forfeiture on the five homes, located at 8639 Groveland Drive, 8641 Groveland Drive, 8647 Groveland Drive, 8651 Groveland Drive and 8906 Groveland Drive. The homes were used by defendant Daniel Allen to grow marijuana plants.

Daniel Allen was sentenced to 59 months imprisonment in June following his guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to cultivate and to possess with the intent to distribute in excess of 100 marijuana plants. According to court documents, beginning in February 2003 and continuing
through August 2003, Daniel Allen, Jacob King and Terry Lehman conspired to cultivate marijuana and possess marijuana with the intent to distribute. They bought, rented or leased houses in residential areas in and about theDallas area, sometimes using bogus names. They also sometimes used bogus names to acquire electrical services for those houses.

Their growing operation was sophisticated. The home would be divided into separate rooms for the different stages of the operation, to include growing, drying and supply. The growing rooms of the houses were outfitted with electric grow lights connected to electric times operating on a track system. They also installed ventilation systems and air conditioners in the growing rooms to control the humidity.

They cultivated the marijuana in hydroponic containers on railings over tubs with tubing to continuously run water to each plant, and each defendant was responsible for the daily maintenance of the operation, to include the irrigation, fertilization, pest control, security and general maintenance of the property. At harvest time, all three would assist in chopping the mature plants for drying and distribution.

Daniel Allen's co-defendants, Jacob King and Terry Lehman, also pled guilty to conspiracy to cultivate and possess with the intent to distribute marijuana and were sentenced earlier this year to 30 months and 21 months, respectively.

The forfeited homes are listed with and will be sold through Re/Max Associates of Dallas, a private realtor hired by the United States Marshal's Service. The net proceeds of the sales will be split among local and state law enforcement agencies to be used for law enforcement training, equipment and operations. The federal government's share of the funds will be placed in the Department of Justice Asset Forfeiture Fund and will be used for facilitating future asset forfeiture operations.

U.S. Attorney Roper acknowledged the efforts of the Dallas Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Collin County Sheriff's Office, and the police departments of the cities of Coppell, Dallas, Farmers Branch, Garland, and Rowlett. The criminal case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanna Etessam, and the forfeitures were the result of the efforts of Assistant United States Attorney John J. DeLaGarza III.