Authorities arrested a Lakewood man and his two sons, and shut down three family-operated pot farms after an eight-month investigation into a large-scale marijuana-growing operation, police said.

Several homes were raided in Lakewood, Sumner and Tacoma, and six people were arrested on a variety of charges, said KIRO 7 Eyewitness News reporter Kevin McCarty.

Prosecutors said the father has been in and out of prison for growing and selling pot for more than 20 years.

John Deeter, 51, faces 26 counts, including leading organized crime, illegal weapons possession and drug dealing.

According to charging documents, Deeter -- who was first convicted of growing and selling marijuana in 1986 -- had turned his operation into a family business.

His two sons -- 22-year-old Jeremy Deeter and 20-year-old Benjamin Deeter -- were both arrested in raids that culminated an aggressive eight month investigation by Lakewood police.

Police said Deeter used family-owned property in Lakewood and Sumner to hide large-scale indoor pot farms.

Using a confidential informant, police began a series of undercover purchases. They used thermal cameras to read the heat signature of plants growing in the homes.

According to court documents, John Deeter grew marijuana plants by the hundreds and told police he netted $30,000 for every harvest, saying he harvested every eight to 12 weeks.

He told police he paid his son Benjamin $2,000 per harvest, according to the documents.

"They banged on my door in full battle gear, scared the hell out of me," said Shaughan Fisher, who rents a home from Deeter.

Fisher said police were at his door early Wednesday morning.

"I'm concerned as to who I'm going to pay my rent this month," Fisher said. "Am I going to send it to the Department of Corrections?"