2 Mexican nationals charged with growing 1,000 marijuana plants on national forest in Colorado
DENVER — Two illegal aliens from Mexico made their initial appearance Monday before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in Denver following their Friday arrest based on a Criminal Complaint regarding a large marijuana grow in the Routt National Forest in northcentral Colorado.
The two arrested, Alfonso Rodriguez-Vazquez and Nestor Fabian Sinaloa-Sinaloa, are due back in court Sept. 3 for a detention hearing and a preliminary hearing. Both are currently in custody.
These arrests were announced by U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Colorado; the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Routt County Sheriff’s Office.
The 3/4-acre illegal grow site was located in the Buffalo Pass area, northeast of Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The eradication team collected about 1,000 plants and removed camping gear from the site. Additional site clean-up of trash and other items will be ongoing by the U.S. Forest Service.
The grow was found after suspicious activity was reported to the U.S. Forest Service by a citizen, leading to the discovery of the grow site by law enforcement.
The two defendants were each charged with manufacturing marijuana. If convicted, they each face not less than five years and not more than 40 years in federal prison. They also each face up to a $5 million fine.
“Abusing the lands that belong to all citizens in order to make drug money is going to get you prosecuted,” said U.S. Attorney John Walsh. “Special thanks to the Forest Service, Homeland Security Investigations and the Routt County Sheriff for putting an end to this abuse in the Routt Forest.”
“This now-dismantled extensive marijuana grow operation on federal lands in Colorado shows all the signs of a sophisticated drug trafficking organization,” said David A. Thompson, special agent in charge of HSI Denver. “HSI is working together with our other law enforcement partners to investigate this case to identify all those associated with this operation.”
“Under federal law, marijuana possession, use, or cultivation remains illegal on national forest lands,” said U.S. Forest Service Special Agent in Charge Laura Mark. “The Forest Service remains committed to providing safety to forest visitors and employees and protecting the natural resources. This includes taking enforcement action for possession, use and cultivation of marijuana on national forest lands.”
According to the Forest Service, illegal marijuana cultivation poses a public safety risk and also directly harms the environment. The illegal use of pesticides can cause extensive long-term damage to natural resources. For example, the supply of public drinking water for hundreds of miles may be impacted because of one marijuana growing site. Overall, the negative impact of marijuana sites on natural resources is severe. Human waste, trash and the use of pesticides are widespread, contamination from sites affects fish and wildlife habitats, and soil erosion is common. In addition, water usage is extreme because each marijuana plant is estimated to require a gallon of water per day – water that is critical to native vegetation, wildlife and public drinking water sources.
The defendants are being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Rieman, District of Colorado.
The charges contained in the Criminal Complaint are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
A Criminal Complaint is a probable cause charging document. Anyone accused of committing of felony violation of federal law is entitled to be indicted by a grand jury.
Forest visitors are urged to be observant while recreating in secluded areas and to back out and contact the U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement at (303) 275-5266, or your local law enforcement agency if they come across suspicious activities.
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