Dope Owes SDG&E $18K

A La Mesa man has to pay $18,000 to San Diego Gas & Electric for stealing power in order to grow marijuana inside a rental home.

Yeng Vang, 23, and his little scheme were uncovered when the home he was renting in the 4700 block of Troy Lane caught on fire in December 2008.

Fire crews found high-intensity lights in two bedrooms along with more than 200 marijuana plants. They also discovered how Vang had bypassed the electric meter so he could use more power than your average customer without alerting SDG&E. The illegal hookup and the lamps it powered caused the fire.

Vang pleaded guilty in July to conspiracy to manufacture marijuana plants and as part of his sentencing Monday in U.S. District Court, he was ordered to serve 60 months in prison and to pay $18,000 back to SDG&E.

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