Investigators seized over 350 marijuana plants and arrested 5 people during two separate grow locations on Friday.
Members of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Marijuana Enforcement served 2 search warrants at residential properties in the communities of Landers and Twentynine Palms. Both locations were found to have large outdoor marijuana grows on property.
Authorities found 223 marijuana plants along with 200 pounds of processed pot at a home at 1863 Cypress Lane in Landers. When authorities arrived, they claim to have found 5 suspects in the process of preparing the marijuana to be packaged for sale. Police arrested J. Cruz Herrera, age 33, (Perris, CA), Juan Villasenor, age 43, (Los Angeles, CA), Francisco Trejo, age 28, (Hollister, CA), Huber Ortiz, age 25, (Romoland, CA) & Walter Sequeiria, age 46, (Arvin, CA) and charged each with cultivation and possession of marijuana for sales.
Many of the suspects were in possession of fake medical marijuana cards, according to the cops, but The Sheriff’s Department believes they had no intention of abiding by California’s medical marijuana laws and were strictly for-profit operations.
A second property, at 4215 Canyon Road in Twentynine Palms, was also raided on Friday. The Sheriff’s found 157 marijuana plants at the residence along with one suspect, 50-year-old Carlos Moreno. Moreno told authorities that he was hired to watch over and care for the property by the owner – but that he had minimal responsibilities when dealing with and caring for the marijuana plants. Moreno has not yet been charged as his claims are being reviewed by the District Attorney’s Office.
All photos via San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department
