4 indicted in large-scale Sequoia National Forest marijuana grow
FRESNO, Calif. – A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment Thursday against four individuals for their involvement in large-scale marijuana cultivation operations on national forest land, following a multiagency probe that included special agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
The indictment charges the following individuals with conspiring to cultivate marijuana at two sites in the Sequoia National Forest: Sair Eduardo Maldonado-Soto, 21, Coral Herrera, 19, both of Perris; Abel Toledo-Villa, 34, of Michoacán, Mexico; and Alfredo Cardenas-Suastegui, 55, of Mexico. The defendants are also charged with damaging public land and natural resources as a result of the marijuana cultivation activities. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Escobar is prosecuting the case.
According to court documents, between March 1 and July 8, the defendants were involved with marijuana grow sites in the Lucas Creek drainage and an area known as the Box 6 site. The investigation revealed Maldonado-Soto and Herrera were supplying material, equipment, and personnel to the grow sites, which consisted of over 10,000 marijuana plants. Maldonado-Soto and Herrera were also allegedly responsible for transporting Toledo-Villa and Cardenas-Suastegui away from the Box 6 grow site after it was raided. The marijuana cultivation operations caused extensive damage to the land and natural resources. Harmful pesticides and large amounts of trash were found at both sites. Native trees and vegetation were also removed to make room for the marijuana plants.
“The brazen exploitation of a national forest to conduct drug operations underscores the defiance of criminals who will to stop at nothing to cultivate their illegal harvests,” said Ryan L. Spradlin, special agent in charge of HSI San Francisco. “This case highlights the value of federal and local law enforcement partnerships to help preserve our forests, promote public safety, and seek justice for those who break the law.”
If convicted of counts one and two, Maldonado-Soto, Toledo-Villa, and Cardenas-Suastegui face a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine. Herrera faces a maximum prison term of 20 years and a $1 million fine. The environmental crime carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
In addition to HSI, the following agencies participated in this investigation: the U.S. Forest Service; the Southern Tri-County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force; the California Department of Justice’s Campaign Against Marijuana Planting (CAMP); the California Department of Fish and Wildlife; the Kern County Sheriff’s Office; the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department; and the police departments in Fontana and Victorville.
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