The warrants were issued for the properties based upon probable cause showing the illegal cultivation of commercial marijuana. At the location 8 persons were detained on site with one having fled the scene. An observation helicopter spotted the fleeing person who entered a white SUV, a short distance away, and a high risk car stopped was initiated, and three more persons were detained.
The investigation found a total of 14,383 growing marijuana plants, ranging in height from 1 foot to 6 feet, being grown in an open field and in 32 “hoop” style green houses. An estimated 1754 pounds of drying marijuana bud and two firearms were also discovered, a shotgun and an AR15 style assault weapon.
During the investigation officers were contacted by Douglas Lincoln, 63 years of age from Covelo, who claimed responsibility for 1 portion of this growing operation. Also detained were suspects; Jorge Sanchez-Zamora, 19 years of age, from Michoacan Mexico, Jose Humberto Barragan-Leon, 36 years of age, from Modesto CA, Sergio Faria-Silva, 34 years of age, from Michoacan Mexico, Anthony David Soto-Farias, 18 years of age, from Vancouver WA, Dagoberto Rumbo-Coria, 58 years of age, from Michoacan Mexico, Alfonso Castaneda, 21 years of age, from Galt CA and Victor Alfonso Garcia-Lopez, 31 years of age, from Galt CA.
Three persons were determined to not be involved in the criminal activity and one 17 year old Hispanic female was found to have been transported to the location the day prior and dropped off to “help trim marijuana”. This person was taken into protective custody as she knew no one on the property and had no relatives nearby who could assure her safety. She was transferred to the custody of the Mendocino County Child Protective Services Department until she could be reunited with her family. An investigation was initiated into the possibility of any sex or labor trafficking of this minor.
Located on the second, adjacent, property were two “hoop” style greenhouses containing 765 growing marijuana plants. This marijuana was also eradicated and no suspects were located at this location.
82(a)(1) [Conspiracy]
30605 PC [Possess Assault Weapon]
11361 H&S [Hire/employ minor prepare marijuana for sale]
11358 H&S [Cultivate Marijuana]
11359 H&S [Possess Marijuana for Sale]
300 WIC [Protective Custody of a Minor]
On June 24, 2020 the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office, assisted by the Mendocino County Major Crimes Task Force, Mendocino County Probation, Lake County Sheriff’s Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Federal Drug Enforcement Agency, the California National Guard Counter-Drug Task Force Unit/High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) members, and the Round Valley Indian Tribal Police Department served a search warrant in the 23700 Block of Biggar Lane in Covelo, related to the illegal cultivation of marijuana.
The warrant was issued for the property based upon probable cause showing the illegal cultivation of commercial marijuana. At the location four males fled into the brush and one adult female was detained. In a search of the wooded area two adult males were detained and two could not be located. Two minor children were also located who were visiting a relative.
These two minor children were later turned over to the custody of the Round Valley Indian Tribal Indian Child Welfare (ICWA) representative to be driven to their legal guardian’s home. Detained at this location were; Angel Esquivel, 56 years of age, out of Covelo, Herberto Valencia-Guzman, 32 years of age, from Eureka, CA, Juan Godine-Martinez, 38 years of age, from Guatemala.
The investigation found a total of 9346 growing marijuana plants, ranging in height from 1 foot to 6 feet, being grown in several open field locations and and in 35 “hoop” style green houses.
A complete report documenting the extent of any damage to the sites was requested. Also discovered were two areas of de-forestation of the local oak trees in what appeared to be an attempt to open the tree canopy for to allow more sunlight on some of the open field grows. These areas were within the riparian zone of Mill creek, a steel-head and salmon spawning tributary of the Eel River.
NOTE: For anyone interested in an incredible history of Mendocino County Indigenous Peoples check out this lengthy treatise:
"Mendocino: race relations in a northern California county, 1850-1949." by Linda Pacini Pitelka
https://scholarworks.umass.
THANK YOU YAQUI!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThat's right, follow the weed and you'll eventually run into fent, cocaine, heroin etc
ReplyDeleteSays the 🐖 COP cheerleader
DeleteNope in all related to only Marijuana, Marijuana, Marijuana.
DeleteYou could see grown men cry when the pinche grita was eradicated.
DeleteLEGAL marijuana isn't "good enough?" You want fifty cent quarts of rot gut whiskey and ten cent beer?
ReplyDeleteAwesome. The cartels better realize America isn't Mexico.
ReplyDeleteYour absolutely right, America is more profitable and that’s why they are here in every corner of America like it or not
DeleteLol yeah those big bad marijuana growers in a state where it’s fucking LEGAL are a real threat. Goofball.
ReplyDeleteits legal when its regulated and taxed.
Deletethese guys had no permits, where on tribal land, werent regulated, even had a minor working. and have had people gone missing before. so yeah theyre a threat aswell.
They are fucked, disturbing tribal burial sites, cutting down trees in a riparian corridor. California does not take this lightly.They will throw the book at them, probably confiscate the property. Total disregard for Mother Nature......This is not Mexico.
ReplyDeleteThey will be out in a few hours anyways. Go CA!
ReplyDeleteThis aint Mexico boys...
ReplyDelete