In August 2020, state police raided a Savoy home, after its heavy use of electricity drew suspicion.
More than two years later, its owner, Bin Huang, pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and received two years of probation — along with forfeiting $11,138 in cash found in the house at 72 Jackson Road and the building and property itself. Huang had originally been charged with marijuana trafficking of more than 100 pounds but less than 2,000 pounds. State police said in 2020 they seized 3,598 cannabis plants at the house, weighing 560 pounds, worth more than $3 million on the street.
Huang was ordered to clean up the property — which he bought for $200,000 in 2017 — to the state's satisfaction. The Eagle visited the property to document its appearance. The order requires that Huang remove all materials, inside and out. That had not happened as of Friday.
Huang also agreed to surrender 40 percent of the cash in a Chase bank account. That account was said during court proceedings to have a balance of $101,000.
Meantime, two men found by police at the site in 2020, Deming Wu and Yebin Mai, stand accused of trafficking in marijuana and operating what the state termed a "large-scale illegal marijuana cultivation operation." They deny having committed crimes and will go to trial next July, in proceedings assisted by a Cantonese interpreter. Mai is accused of trying to bribe an Eversource employee.
- LARRY PARNASS — THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE
From Jackson Road, this home in Savoy shows no sign of its most recent use as the site of an illegal marijuana cultivation endeavor. Two men face trial this year and the home's former owner has forfeited the property after admitting to the drug activity in court.
- LARRY PARNASS — THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE
This entrance to the Savoy property was equipped with a Ring video monitor, as well as floodlights.
- LARRY PARNASS — THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE
The front of the Jackson Road house in Savoy. The owner agreed to forfeit the property.
- LARRY PARNASS — THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE
In what was once a living space, this interior area, viewed through a window, had been roughly framed with wood and shows signs of having been a cultivation area.
- LARRY PARNASS — THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE
A storage shed at the back of the property, behind a side porch.
- LARRY PARNASS — THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE
The illegal cannabis operation was discovered by state police after an Eversource crew reported unusual levels of electricity use at the Savoy property.
- LARRY PARNASS — THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE
A view of the home's southern porch and entry.
- LARRY PARNASS — THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE
Discarded fans on a side porch, partially concealed by a sheet of plywood.
- LARRY PARNASS — THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE
On a side porch, two heat lamps sit dusted with recent snowfall.
- LARRY PARNASS — THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE
Windows on the back of the house contain heavy-duty shades.
- LARRY PARNASS — THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE
Since the operation was closed, a tree has fallen against the northwest part of the house.
- LARRY PARNASS — THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE
A view through a window of one of the home's former grow rooms, as evidenced by the placement of a fan.
- LARRY PARNASS — THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE
Every entrance to the property was rigged to monitor arrivals.
- LARRY PARNASS — THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE
A neighbor says that the former owners abandoned cars on the property. Two of the vehicles had reportedly gone unused for years.
- LARRY PARNASS — THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE
Two abandoned cars, and a lawn tractor, remain on the Savoy property.
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- LARRY PARNASS — THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE
From Jackson Road, this home in Savoy shows no sign of its most recent use as the site of an illegal marijuana cultivation endeavor. Two men face trial this year and the home's former owner has forfeited the property after admitting to the drug activity in court.
More like this...
More information
A hearing related to a 2020 drug raid in Savoy was called off, after a Berkshire Superior Court judge decided plans were lacking to provide proper translation to defendants who speak Cantonese.
The owner of a home in Savoy where state police broke up a large-scale illicit marijuana grow in 2020 appears ready to do more than throw in the towel. The house would go, too.
SAVOY — It was a year ago this coming week that utility workers happened upon odd doings in a house up a long driveway in Savoy.