Full Notification

DATE/TIME: October 11, 2021, through October 17, 2021

INCIDENT: Outdoor Marijuana Cultivations-Operation Hammer Strike, Week 7

LOCATION: #1 - Parcel with no address, Lucerne Valley
#2 - 30100 Block of Sutter Road, Lucerne Valley
#3 - Parcel with no address, Lucerne Valley
#4 - Parcel with no address, Lucerne Valley
#5 - Parcel with no address, Lucerne Valley
#6 - Parcel with no address, Lucerne Valley
#7 - 58200 Block of Bearing Tree, Landers
#8 - 59300 Block of Stearman, Landers
#9 - Parcel with no address, Landers
#10 - 59400 Block of Lutz Lane, Landers
#11 - 60700 Block of Stagemans, Landers
#12 - 15100 Block of Kinai, Apple Valley
#13 - 14600 Block of Phoenix, Victorville
#14 - 15000 Block of La Brisa, Victorville
#15 - 18000 Block of Pearmine, Adelanto
#16 - 12500 Block of Alta Vista, Pinon Hills
#17 - 7700 Block of Victor Vista, Yucca Valley
#18 - 7000 Block of Jade Avenue, Fontana
#19 - Parcel with no address, Hinkley
#20 - 41600 Block of Harper Lake Road, Hinkley
#21 - Parcel with no address, Hinkley
#22 - Parcel with no address, Hinkley
#23 - Parcel with no address, Hinkley

SUSPECT(S): Maria Garcia, 35 year old female resident of Washington State. Location #6
Joel Oliveros, 32 year old male resident of Washington State. Location #6
Rosalinda Castaneda, 38 year old female resident of Victorville, Ca. Location #14
Vanessa Quimby, 22 year old female resident of Adelanto, Ca. Location #14
Clarisa Montoy, 25 year old female resident of Riverside, Ca. Location #14
Eddie Lee, 42 year old male resident of Adelanto, Ca. Location #15
Chaz Johnson, 35 year old male resident of Yucca Valley, Ca. Location #17
Billiejo McGuirey, 32 year old male resident of Yucca Valley, Cal. Location #17
Eliazar Hernandez-Reyes, 20 year old male resident of Mexico. Location #17
Ivan Gomez, 31 year old male resident of Fontana, Ca. Location #18
Lan Xioa, 53 year old female resident of Hinkley, Ca. Location #20
Zhonglin Qi, 57 year old male resident of Folsom, Ca. Location #20
Juan Asebarre, 21 year old male resident of Hinkley, Ca. Location #22
Mario Asebarre, 25 year old male resident of Hinkley, Ca. Location #22
Angle Asebarre, 28 year old male resident of Hinkley, Ca. Location #22

SUMMARY: Between October 11, 2021, and October 17, 2021, investigators from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department - Marijuana Enforcement Team (MET), along with San Bernardino Sheriff's deputies from several different Patrol Stations, served 23 search warrants at various locations in Lucerne Valley, Landers, Apple Valley, Victorville, Adelanto, Pinon Hills, Yucca Valley, Fontana, and Hinkley. MET personnel had received numerous complaints about large outdoor and indoor marijuana cultivations in these areas. Over this past week, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's personnel located and arrested 15 suspects. Investigators seized 20,031 marijuana plants, 3,596 pounds of processed marijuana, three guns, eight grams of concentrated marijuana, and 8.9 grams of methamphetamine. There were 159 greenhouses eradicated at all of these locations. Investigators mitigated one THC extraction lab and three electrical bypasses.

The investigations revealed the cannabis cultivations were not in compliance with California's Medical and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MAUCRSA) and San Bernardino County's ordinance prohibiting Commercial Cannabis Activity. San Bernardino County has a law prohibiting Commercial Cannabis Activity, which includes growing marijuana plants outdoors.

The Sheriff's Gangs/Narcotics Division will continue to enforce California's cannabis laws and San Bernardino County's ordinance regarding cannabis cultivation and distribution. Persons found guilty of violating the state law and county ordinance are subject to fines, prosecution, and seizure of property.

Property owners who are growing marijuana or are aware their tenants are growing marijuana on their properties in violation of the state law and local ordinances may also be subject to civil or criminal sanctions. Property owners are encouraged to contact their local law enforcement or code compliance agency to confirm if cultivating cannabis is prohibited or allowed under specific regulations.

The suspects were cited or booked on charges of Cultivation of Cannabis; over six plants, Possession of a Dangerous Drug, Manufacturing a Controlled Substance, Electrical Theft, Possession for Sales of Marijuana, and Possession of a Dangerous Drug While Armed.

During the week of October 4 through 10, 2021, investigators submitted a case to the San Bernardino County District Attorneys' office for illegal marijuana cultivation in the Pinon Hills area. This cultivation site contained the chemical Metamidofos, a highly toxic insecticide. Two suspects were arrested at this location. The District Attorneys' office has filed six felony charges against the suspects. The Sheriff's Department is working collaboratively with the District Attorney's Office, County Code Enforcement, Department of Agriculture, and other county departments to combat this growing illegal trend.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is urged to contact the Sheriff's Gangs/Narcotics Division at (909)387-8400 or [email protected]. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call the We-tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463), or you may leave the information on the We-Tip Hotline at www.wetip.com.

Refer: Sheriff's Public Affairs
Station: Gangs/Narcotics Division
Phone No. (909) 387-3700
Case No. 652100745
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SHANNON D. DICUS, Sheriff-Coroner
San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department