Men found with 155 pounds of marijuana in U-Haul, deputies say

BROOKSVILLE - Members of the Hernando County Sheriff's Vice and Narcotics team found 155 pounds of packaged marijuana in a U-Haul truck on Wednesday, according to an arrest affidavit.

Ricardo Fernandez, 54, and Juan Encarcion-Gonzalez, 55, were pulled over by a patrol deputy in the area of Batten and Hayman Roads after the truck they were in failed to drive in a single lane.

The men later admitted to dismantling a grow operation at 4215 Bessemer Road in Brooksville, where Fernandez lived, and said they were taking the equipment to the dump.

A search of the moving van later found 155 pounds of marijuana, 169 marijuana plants and a fan used to process the drug.

Fernandez, who is listed as living in Tampa on the jail's booking site, was arrested on charges of trafficking in marijuana, possessing a structure to manufacture drugs, producing marijuana and possession of drug equipment. He is being held on $35,500 bail.

Encarcion-Gonzalez, who is listed as living in Miami on the jail booking site, was arrested on charges of trafficking in marijuana, producing marijuana and possession of drug equipment. He is being held on $30,500 bail.