DOJ: Pot bust linked to statewide ring

Arrests, drugs, firearms and U.S. currency has connected Corning to a large-scale marijuana cultivation and distribution organization that spans the state from Los Angeles to Tehama County.

The local connection was first revealed on Aug. 27 in Colusa County when the California Highway Patrol made a traffic stop on Jesus Pablo Lara, 47, who had left a residence at 2168 Donnovan Ave., in Corning, about an hour earlier.

During a search of the van, law enforcement reported locating 209 pounds of processed marijuana, said California Highway Patrol Officer Heath Helman, supervisor of the North State Marijuana Investigation Team.

Lara was arrested and booked into the Colusa County Jail, on suspicion of drug possession, drug transportation, and illegal entry. He is being held without bail.

On Wednesday, at 11:30 a.m., agents from federal, state, and county drug task forces served a search warrant at the Donnovan Avenue residence where they reported finding 700 pounds of processed marijuana and $22,468 in cash in a bedroom, according to a North State Marijuana Investigation Team statement.

Mexican national Leovigildo Villa-Albor, 27, of Corning, was arrested and was booked into the Tehama County Jail on suspicion of keeping a place to sell narcotics or a controlled substance, possession of marijuana for sale, and planting/cultivating marijuana. Bail was set at $60,000.

During that same time, agents served search warrants at 24773 Gardiner Ferry Road and 532 San Benito Avenue in Gerber.

At the Gardiner Ferry Road site, approximately 2,000 pounds of fertilizer and several thousand feet of black irrigation tubing consistent with large scale outdoor marijuana was reportedly found, and at the Gerber residence, 1,254 pounds of processed marijuana and a loaded 9mm handgun was reportedly found said Helman.

Jimenez Juan Herrera, 35, of Michoacan, Mexico, was arrested, reportedly hiding in the Gerber home near the handgun, officials sad. He was booked into the Tehama County Jail on suspicion of possession of marijuana for sale, planting/cultivating marijuana/hashish and giving/transporting more than 28.5 grams of marijuana, with bail set at $75,000, Helman reported.

As the Tehama County raids and arrests were being conducted, agents also executed two search warrants in Orland.

“Both of those residences were empty and no arrested were made or drugs located,” Helman said.

On Wednesday, in relation to the same investigation, four search warrants were served in the Los Angeles/Riverside area by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office. During those searches, 661 pounds of processed marijuana, $29,200 in cash, a handgun and a bullet proof vest were seized, and four additional drug ring suspects arrested, officials reported.

In all, seven suspects were arrested, 2,824 pounds of processed marijuana, $51,668 in cash, two handguns, and a bullet proof vest were seized, the marijuana investigation team reported.

Helman said the marijuana cultivation and distribution organization has a connection to illegal marijuana gardens being grown in national forests in Tehama County and the case is still under investigation, with additional arrests pending.