Six Las Vegas Residents Indicted by Federal Grand Jury for Operating Valley-Wide Illegal Marijuana Grow Operations

LAS VEGAS, NV — A federal grand jury in Las Vegas returned a multi-count indictment Wednesday charging six Las Vegas residents for their roles in operating a sophisticated network of illegal residential marijuana grow houses throughout the Las Vegas Valley.

According to indictment documents unsealed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada, the operation utilized four converted single-family homes—including one situated directly adjacent to a public park—to cultivate mass quantities of illicit cannabis outside of state licensing and regulatory frameworks.

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|          FEDERAL MARIJUANA INDICTMENT DOSSIER          |
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|  - Indictment Date: Wednesday, August 19, 2026        |
|  - Prosecuting Agency: U.S. Attorney's Office (NV)     |
|  - Defendants (6): Changtian Mai, Hoi Man Mak,         |
|                    Shengsheng Feng, Zhifeng Mai,       |
|                    Jianwen Mai, Jianquan Mai           |
|  - Scope of Operation: 4 Residential Grow Houses       |
|  - Total Seized / Cultivated: 1,000+ Marijuana Plants  |
|  - Conspiratorial Window: Jan. 2025 – Feb. 2026        |
|  - Public Safety Hazard: Operation Adjacent to Park    |
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Residential Conversion and Illegal Cultivation Network

Federal charging records allege that from January 2025 through February 2026, defendants Changtian Mai, Hoi Man Mak (alias Antares Mak), Shengsheng Feng, Zhifeng Mai, Jianwen Mai, and Jianquan Mai coordinated the acquisition and commercial outfitting of residential properties for high-intensity indoor agriculture.

The group illegally bypassed residential electrical infrastructure and deployed industrial hydroponic equipment to grow over 1,000 marijuana plants. Investigators emphasized that residential conversion schemes pose severe electrical fire risks, structural water damage, and neighborhood safety concerns when operating near public recreational spaces.

“Transnational and illicit criminal networks that exploit our domestic residential neighborhoods and compromise community safety will be dismantled,” federal prosecutors noted in an agency release regarding the indictment.

Federal Penalties and Court Appearances

The defendants face statutory federal charges for conspiracy to manufacture and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. The case was investigated jointly by federal and local law enforcement partners across Clark County.

Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office District of Nevada Press Bureau, Las Vegas Sun Crime Desk.