UPDATE Feb. 6:

Xaingming Ye, Asian male. age 62, of Whitefield and Brooklyn, New York was arrested on an arrest warrant at his residence on Clover Lane in Whitefield by Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Deputies. Ye is charged with unlawfully Cultivating Marijuana, a Class B felony.  On Feb. 2, Hongxia Kuang, Asian female, age 51, also of Whitefield and Brooklyn, New York was issued a summons for unlawfully Cultivating Marijuana, Class B.

These charges stem from a search warrant served at 34 Clover Lane in Whitefield on Jan. 10, 2024 by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office. During this warrant, over 1,000 marijuana plants were seized.  Ye had fled the residence prior to the search warrant.

While monitoring the residence in the days after the search warrant, Deputies located Ye and Kuang back at the Clover lane address.  While Ye was initially charged, when questioned he indicated Kuang was also involved in the operation.  This resulted in her being charged the following day.

Original post:

In December 2023, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division received information from the U.S. Attorney’s Office about possible illegal marijuana grow operations in Lincoln County. Information received stated out-of-state buyers were purchasing low-priced properties and setting up illegal marijuana grows.  It is believed the processed marijuana is being shipped out of Maine.

The Sheriff’s Office is being assisted in this investigation by Maine Office of Marijuana Policy, Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Homeland Security, U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency and U.S. Treasury Department.

This investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information concerning this investigation or with knowledge of other possible illegal operations is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Ron Rollins (207) 882-7332 or rrollins@lincolnso.me<mailto:rrollins@lincolnso.me>

People can also provide information regarding this event via our tip411 line anonymously by texting the keyword LTIP and your tip to 847411.

Search warrants were served at the following locations:

Jan. 10, 34 Clover Lane, Whitefield, Xiangming Yi, Asian male, 61, fled area prior to our arrival, warrant issued, Cultivating Marijuana Class B, 1,014 plants.

Jan. 17, 91 Jefferson Road, Whitefield, Weihuan Liu, Asian male, 41, Brooklyn, New York. No marijuana license, Unlawful Trafficking Marijuana Class B and Cultivating Marijuana Class B, 738 plants and 40 pounds of processed marijuana

333 North Howe Road, Whitefield.
Huan Ying Li, Asian female, 57, formerly of NYC. No marijuana license, Unlawful Trafficking Marijuana Class B, Criminal Conspiracy Class C, 27 pounds of processed marijuana.

170 Rockland Road, Jefferson.
Zhen Zhong Chen, Asian male. 45, no marijuana license, Cultivating Marijuana Class B, 820 plants

Jan.  30: 
754 Cooper Rd, Chelsea.
Ming Da Li, Asian male, 41, of Brooklyn, NY, No MJ license.
Cultivating Marijuana, Class B
900 plants.

19 Abby Lane, Whitefield.
Wan Ting Xiao, Asian female, 50, San Gabriel, California, no marijuana license.
Ding Zhan Liao, Asian male, 49, Brooklyn, New York. no marijuana license.
Cultivating Marijuana, Class B and Unlawful Trafficking Marijuana Class B (Each charged)
2,294 and 40 pounds of processed marijuana

Another Whitefield address was listed as “Charges pending: Cultivating Marijuana Class D
300 plants”

Total: 6,066 plants, 107 pounds of processed marijuana.