Northern California man arrested after deputies dismantle massive illegal marijuana operation

(FOX40.COM) — A man from Northern California was arrested after deputies and officials with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife found over 1,000 illegally grown marijuana plants , which are estimated to be worth between $250,000 and $400,000, across three grow houses in Calaveras County.

The Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office said the man, a 32-year-old from Modesto, was cited for multiple charges related to the operation. Deputies said they also discovered numerous violations for pollution, littering, and water diversion near the grow houses.
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On July 11, around 8:30 a.m., deputies worked with the CDFW to execute a search warrant on Lakeview Road in Valley Springs.

The Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office handed the warrant over to their Marijuana Enforcement Team and the unit began combing through the three houses to get rid of the illegal marijuana, locating about 1,008 actively growing plants.

“The estimated street value of the eradicated plants ranges from $252,000 to $403,200,” the sheriff’s office said. The CDFW’s biologists were on site to handle the other environmental violations, the sheriff’s office added.

Other agencies that supported the sheriff’s office in disrupting the illegal marijuana operation were Homeland Security Investigations and Calaveras County Code Compliance.

“The Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office is committed to its efforts to combat illegal marijuana cultivation and the associated crimes. To report any illegal marijuana activities, please call the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office tip line at 209-754-6870,” the agency said.

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