POT GROWER DRIVEN BY 'GREED'

Judge Sentences Man To 21/2 Years In Prison

A judge has concluded greed was the only reason a financially stable
father of three was involved in a sophisticated marijuana grow operation.

The judge said Lan Qin Mu and his family seemed to enjoy a comfortable
lifestyle with two 2007 vehicles.

"It had the potential to generate a large profit for the accused,"
provincial court Judge Allan Fradsham said of the grow operation, in a
written judgment released this week.

"The accused did not suffer from a drug addiction which he was trying
to finance, nor did he have any pressing financial concerns. . . . The
accused's involvement . . . was motivated by greed."

The judge sentenced him to 21/2 years in prison.

Fradsham had earlier convicted Mu, 46, of possession of marijuana for
the purpose of trafficking and unlawfully producing a controlled substance.

Crown prosecutor Scott Couper had urged Fradsham to impose the
21/2-year penalty. Defence lawyer Austin Nguyen had sought a
conditional jail sentence of less than two years, to be served in the
community.

"The accused has regret for the adverse effects which this conviction
will have on his family," the judge said, "but he still does not
accept responsibility for his actions regarding these offences."

Mu was arrested and charged on Sept. 8, 2006, shortly after leaving
the northwest house where 717 plants were discovered. The plants had a
street value of $896,000 if sold by the ounce, Fradsham said.

There were three grow rooms in the basement and four trays of starter
plants in the bedroom of the home, which was unoccupied.

There was very little furniture in the house, no clothing, and the
bedrooms were used to store equipment.

The venting systems of the furnace and water heater had been modified
to accommodate the grow operation.

Mothballs had been placed at the front door to mask the drug smell.

Mu must abide by a weapons prohibition and provide a DNA sample.