A Venice man is facing federal charges for allegedly running a methamphetamine lab and a marijuana growing operation at his home.

Kenneth W. Denman, 23, of 2722 Booth Road, is facing two federal felony charges of manufacturing a controlled substance.

Cayuga County Sheriff's Deputy Corey Colton reported in March he found a room set up to grow marijuana plants and 149 plants in Denman's home when he was investigating a vehicle abandoned on a nearby road. Law enforcement officials from the Sheriff's Office and the Auburn Police Department's Finger Lakes Drug Task Force reported finding a working methamphetamine lab in a building behind Denman's home.

Denman was originally arrested March 18 by the Cayuga County Sheriff's Office, but the local charges will wait until the federal charges are disposed of first, Sheriff Rob Outhouse said.

For the manufacturing methamphetamine charge, Denman faces 20 years in prison, a fine up to $250,000 and supervised release of three years; for the growing marijuana charge, Denman faces the same maximum penalties and a minimum penalty of five years imprisonment, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Southwick, who is prosecuting the case.

Denman has been released under the supervision of the U.S. probation department, and the case still has to go before a federal grand jury.

Staff writer Amaris Elliott-Engel can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282

or at amaris.elliot-engel@lee.net