On February 26, 2009, at about 9:35 a.m., Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) Detectives along with agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and members of the Maricopa County High Intensity Drug Traffic Area (HIDTA) Task Force served a search warrant on a residence at 17974 W. Havasupai in Casa Grande, Ariz. A DPS SWAT team served the warrant by making entry on the residence. Detectives discovered a full hydroponic Marijuana grow operation and seized 30 plants in various stages of growth. A fully functional MDMA (Ecstasy) lab was also located, dismantled and seized with MDMA chemicals. DPS Detectives found and seized 16 psilocybin mushroom plants which were being cultivated and grown in the same lab. Also seized were two vehicles and a shotgun.

DPS Detectives arrested two suspects, Timothy Lipson, 33, and his wife, Angelica Cruz-Lipson, 34. Both suspects, who are from Casa Grande, were booked into the Pinal County Jail on charges of possession of dangerous drugs, manufacturing a dangerous drug, possessing precursor chemicals to manufacture drugs, possession of and producing Marijuana, and child abuse.

An 18-month-old girl and a 2-month-old boy belonging to the suspects were found living in the lab/house. The children were turned over to Child Protective Services (CPS).

The potential value of the drugs seized is estimated to be near $300,000. A fully grown hydroponic Marijuana plant yields about two pounds of product which sells for about $4,500 a pound. The total weight of the seized mushroom plants was around two pounds. A pound of psilocybin mushrooms is worth about $2,000. The value of the raw MDMA chemicals is undetermined at this time. Clean up of the home is estimated to cost over $5,000.

The male suspect had lived in this home for about ten years. It is believed he had been operating a drug lab out of the residence for some time.