Major indoor grow operation discovered in Paulding

By Mashaun D. Simon

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Three individuals believed to be responsible for several indoor marijuana grow operation locations have been arrested in Paulding County.

Loreen Marie Hobdy, 37; Judd Alexander Hobdy, 34; and Richard Carl Fata, 41, were arrested after officials from the Tallapoosa Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Paulding County Sheriff’s Office and the Haralson-Paulding Drug Task Force discovered the grow operation.

Officers executed a search warrant at a commercial building located in the 300 block of Golf Course Road in Haralson County on Oct. 14.

A home in the 100 block of Lake Tanisha Drive was also investigated, which led to the discovery of another location.

Agents seized several ounces of marijuana, along with other items used in the cultivation of hydroponic marijuana including eight, 500-gallon water containers used to cycle water to rooms where the marijuana was being grown in the commercial building.

Inside the Lake Tanisha home, officers found 10 pounds of hydroponic marijuana, believed to have been grown in the Tallapoosa operation.

Information gathered from the search on Lake Tanisha Drive, led agents to execute a search warrant on the 100 block of Maggie’s Point in Dallas. At that home, another grow operation was found along with about 20 pounds of marijuana and 385 plants. The house was without furniture.

The entire operation was done hydroponically, with no soil being involved, said officials in a statement.

All have all been charged with trafficking marijuana and other drug charges. Another man, Jason Henry Pimentel, 31, is being sought and believed to be hiding in Florida.

Anyone with additional information about this operation or others is asked to call the Haralson-Paulding Drug Task Force at 770-646-9175.