By JOE SEELIG
Published: September 4, 2008
SEBRING - Two Sebring men were free on bail Wednesday, after sheriff's
investigators say their fingerprints and palm prints were found inside
of separate marijuana grow houses taken down in June and July by the
sheriff's Special Investigations Unit.
"I can sum this case up in three words," said sheriff's Capt. Randy LaBelle. "Good police work."
The first grow house was taken down on June 2 at 6302 Apple Road, in Sebring, according to sheriff's arrest reports.
Deputies discovered both alive and harvested plants weighing about 34
pounds, along with an active grow house operation with grow lights,
special generators, irrigation equipment and air conditioning.
The second grow house was raided on July 18 at 4416 Jaguar Drive, in
Sebring. There, deputies found 130 live plants weighing 69 pounds,
growing in two rooms with air conditioning, 28 light hoods for grow
lights, reflective materials covering the walls, a water source and a
power diversion.
Initially arrested and charged with marijuana production and
trafficking in connection with the Apple Road grow house were Danilo
Marcelo Vasallo-Luis, 55, of 6302 Apple Road, and Hansel Cruz Vasallo,
23, of 4600 Hammond Blvd., Sebring.
During the investigation of the Apple Road crime scene, deputies
investigated two utility trailers on the property. One was registered
to Hansel Vasallo and the second was registered to Duniesky Vasallo,
28, of 4316 Shamrock St., Sebring, the report stated.
No evidence was found when deputies went to Duniesky Vasallo's home on
Shamrock Street, but a water diversion and power diversion were
discovered at Apple Road and both utilities were in Duniesky Vasallo's
name, the report stated.
On July 20, Duniesky Vasallo was charged with marijuana production and
possession of drug equipment in connection with the Jaguar Drive grow
house. On July 25, his fingerprints were located at the Apple Road grow
house, linking him to that case, the report stated.
When deputies were searching Duniesky Vasallo's home at 4316 Shamrock,
a neighbor, Lisvanys Sormeller, 31, of 4701 Shamrock St., Sebring,
approached them. His curiosity aroused the investigators' interest.
Sormeller was charged Tuesday with marijuana producing, marijuana
trafficking in excess of 25 pounds or 300 plants or more and possession
of narcotics equipment, when his finger and palm prints were reportedly
discovered on insulation board inside the Apple Road grow house.
His prints were already on file for a previous arrest for driving under
the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI) and DUI with property damage,
on April 5.
The prints were consistent with someone holding up the boards while
they were being secured to the wall, the report stated. He was freed on
$16,000 bail.
Rearrested on Tuesday on new charges was Hansel Vasallo, 23, on charges
of grand theft $10,000 or more but less than $20,000, fraud - tampering
with or theft of utilities or cable services, marijuana producing,
trafficking in marijuana in excess of 25 pounds or 300 plants or more
and possession of narcotics equipment.
Hansel Vasallo's fingerprints and palm prints were found on materials
used to construct the Jaguar Drive grow house, the arrest report stated.
He was freed on $18,000 bail on the new charges.
His bondsman went off bond on his June 3 arrest charges of marijuana
production, trafficking in marijuana and possession of narcotics
equipment. That $138,500 bail was reinstated when he paid the $18,000
bail, according to sheriff's central records.
According to the arrest report, Sormeller is married to Duniesky
Vasallo's cousin and related to Hansel Vasallo by marriage. Hansel
Vasallo is possibly a cousin to Duniesky Vasallo, the report stated.
Sormeller and Duniesky Vasallo live about two blocks from the Jaguar Drive grow house.
Duniesky Vasallo's father-in-law and mother-in-law, who have not been
charged, own the Jaguar Drive property but were renting it to an
unknown subject, the report stated.
