DA: Man Who Robbed Pot Farm Had One of His Own

One of the two men who was operating another pot farm discovered in San Bruno, court records show.

Kenny Kong, 34, of San Francisco was arrested along with Kitae Chae, 38, also of San Francisco, after the two men were caught April 29 following their alleged robbery of the Valleywood Drive grow house, which was being operated by two elderly women.

Two weeks earlier, the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office said, a narcotics task force issued a search warrant on another indoor pot farm and found more than 540 marijuana plants and paperwork connecting Kong to the grow house. However, the specific location wasn't disclosed.

The pot farm discoveries have been both bizarre and shocking. Valleywood Drive neighbors interviewed following the robbery and bust had no clue that a home on their block was being used to grow marijuana and no one had suspected that the two ladies quietly going in and out of the house were doing anything illegal, especially because they were both older than 60.

Now, the two women—Aleen Lam, 72, and Virginia Pon, 65—are in San Mateo County Jail on $100,000 bail after being charged with several felony counts in connection with possessing, cultivating and illegally storing marijuana and stealing electricity.

Pon also is facing charges for reportedly passing $40,000 in bad checks at Cache Creek Casino in a previous case.

All four suspects pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Lam and Pon are expected to appear in court on May 26 for a preliminary hearing.

Kong and Chae, who are both out of custody after posting bail, are expected back in court on June 22 for their preliminary hearing.