[Jims5543]

Same deal here, except the home builder was in on it, crazy stuff.

Desperate times forcing desperate measures for homeowners, and, to be honest, it's hard to believe.

A local builder is now the center of a massive marijuana grow house investigation. So far, 20 homes have been raided. All these homes were built by Global Home builders of the Treasure Coast.

And police believe the builder was making deals with people who couldn't make their mortgage payments. So, were they offering to save people's homes if they grew pot? Fox 29 finds out.

Neighbors found it hard to believe a school teacher could afford such a mortgage payment, but, inside, police found all the trappings of a full-blown marijuana lab, and, of course, this was house number 20 of what has become the Super Tuesday 2007 of sorts for extinguishing pot houses.

"I wasn't sure what was happening until I saw them taking out electrical equipment and lights - grow lights," says Pam Doss, a neighbor.

Chief Dep. Garry Wilson, St. Lucie Co. Sheriff's Office, says, "I don't know that they were all built by Global Homes, but Global Homes had an interest in them currently."

Now, Global Homes customers are also getting caught, and neighbors noticed the builder would come by often. "I wouldn't doubt it; that doesn't surprise me."

Police won't say how, but the owners have ties or some arrangement with Global Homes.

"He said he got over his head with the mortgage, and they were trying to take the house from him, so he had to move out," says neighbor Juliet Chambers.

The chief of police says grow houses are in every community and not just here. But, last year, they busted 75 grow houses, part of an intricate mob ring from New Jersey and back. Now, they have 20 with more raids coming late into the Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning.

Many of those homes belong to Global Homes customers facing foreclosure.