Two marijuana grow operations busted

MAT-SU — A search warrant served in Cordova had repercussions in Willow and Talkeetna as Alaska State Troopers took down two marijuana-growing operations.

According to a trooper report, Cordova police and the state’s drug enforcement team served a search warrant on a vehicle belonging to Georgia L. Nichols, 63, in Cordova June 10 at 7:25 p.m.

The search turned up marijuana — enough to constitute a felony drug possession charge. Nichols was arrested and charged with fourth-degree drug misconduct, defined as possessing more than a pound of marijuana.

During the investigation, investigators also tracked down two sources for Nichols’ marijuana. On June 20 at 9:35 a.m. the state investigators, plus Talkeetna troopers and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, executed a search warrant off of Merlin Drive in Willow, turning up 18 marijuana plants, troopers report.

That search resulted in the arrest of Charles Richardson, 63, who troopers identified as the grow’s alleged proprietor. Richardson was charged with three counts of fourth-degree drug misconduct.

From Willow, the team drove at 11:35 a.m. to East Sunshine Lake West Drive in Talkeetna and took down a 58-plant grow. The homeowners, unidentified in the report, will be charged with four counts of fourth-degree drug misconduct.

—Andrew Wellner