Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
Russell Lee Riggs, 69, of Weldon, was sentenced Monday to five years in prison for conspiring to manufacture, distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana grown in the Sequoia National Forest, the U.S. Attorneys Office said.
Riggs had pled guilty in June, according to a news release. Court documents say Riggs delivered supplies and material to a marijuana cultivation site with more than 3,000 marijuana plants in the Fay Creek drainage in the Sequoia National Forest. He also received and removed processed marijuana from the site, the release said.
Springs were dammed and diverted to irrigate the marijuana plants and large amounts of trash were scattered throughout the site, including in a flowing stream. Law enforcement officers also seized marijuana cultivation equipment and supplies, more than $7,000 in cash, 16 firearms and more than 2,000 rounds of ammunition at the site and during follow-up searches of Riggs's residence and that of co-defendant Juan Penaloza-Ramirez, 46, a native and citizen of Mexico, the Attorneys Office said.
U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd also ordered Riggs to pay $1,719.31 to the U.S. Forest Service for the damage to public land and natural resources caused by the cultivation activities. He also ordered the forfeiture of the seized firearms and ammunition.
Penaloza-Ramirez pleaded guilty and was sentenced in June to seven years and three months in prison.
This investigation involved the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Southern Tri-County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) task force, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California Department of Justice's Campaign Against Marijuana Planting (CAMP), and the Kern County Sheriff's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Escobar prosecuted the case.
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Full Article: Weldon man gets five years for marijuana-related crimes | Breaking | bakersfield.com
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Photo Credit: ISmoke Magazine
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Riggs had pled guilty in June, according to a news release. Court documents say Riggs delivered supplies and material to a marijuana cultivation site with more than 3,000 marijuana plants in the Fay Creek drainage in the Sequoia National Forest. He also received and removed processed marijuana from the site, the release said.
Springs were dammed and diverted to irrigate the marijuana plants and large amounts of trash were scattered throughout the site, including in a flowing stream. Law enforcement officers also seized marijuana cultivation equipment and supplies, more than $7,000 in cash, 16 firearms and more than 2,000 rounds of ammunition at the site and during follow-up searches of Riggs's residence and that of co-defendant Juan Penaloza-Ramirez, 46, a native and citizen of Mexico, the Attorneys Office said.
U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd also ordered Riggs to pay $1,719.31 to the U.S. Forest Service for the damage to public land and natural resources caused by the cultivation activities. He also ordered the forfeiture of the seized firearms and ammunition.
Penaloza-Ramirez pleaded guilty and was sentenced in June to seven years and three months in prison.
This investigation involved the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Southern Tri-County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) task force, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California Department of Justice's Campaign Against Marijuana Planting (CAMP), and the Kern County Sheriff's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Escobar prosecuted the case.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Weldon man gets five years for marijuana-related crimes | Breaking | bakersfield.com
Contact: Contact Us | Site | bakersfield.com
Photo Credit: ISmoke Magazine
Website: bakersfield.com | Kern County news, events, shopping & search
