MORE THAN 3 ½ TONS OF ILLEGAL MARIJUANA SEIZED AT 12 LOCATIONS IN TWENTYNINE PALMS

Sheriff’s deputies raided 12 illegal marijuana grows in Twentynine Palms and the Desert Heights neighborhood. Wednesday and Thursday (March 17-18). Deputies went to three locations on Michael Way; two locations near Two Mile Road and Pampas Avenue and two locations on Canyon Road; as well as grows at Valle Vista and Los Olivos, Emerald Street, and Rainbow Trail, and Del Oro Road. A total of eight men were arrested for investigation of illegal cultivation of marijuana. Sixteen deputies and detectives assigned to the Morongo Basin Sheriff’s station seized more than 15,500 marijuana plants totaling over 3 ½ tons. One cultivation site was found to have an illegal water main by-pass. Additionally, two firearms and more than $18,000 in illicit drug proceeds were seized.

The Morongo Basin has experienced an increase of illegal outdoor marijuana cultivation activity in the last several years, primarily in the unincorporated county areas. Detectives are currently investigating two separate unsolved shootings where two victims were shot multiple times at illegal outdoor marijuana cultivation sites. The public is urged to stay away from suspected marijuana cultivation locations and contact law enforcement.

Future eradication operations are being planned as cultivation sites are identified and investigated. Anyone with information related to the investigation should call Deputy Alex Stumbo at 760-366-4175.

LOCATIONS:

#1-Two Mile Road/ Pampas Avenue, City of Twentynine Palms,

#2- Two Mile Road/ Pampas Avenue, City of Twentynine Palms,

#3- Valle Vista/ Los Olivos, Twentynine Palms,

#4- 68700 Block Michael Way, Twentynine Palms,

#5- Michael Way/ Los Olivos, Twentynine Palms,

#6- Michael Way/ Los Olivos, Twentynine Palms,

#7- 5000 Block Emerald Street, Twentynine Palms,

 #8- 70100 Block Rainbow Trail,Twentynine Palms,

#9 1100 Block Decker Avenue, Twentynine Palms,

#10- 600 Block Canyon Road, Twentynine Palms,

#11- 500 Block Canyon Road, Twentynine Palms.

#12- 67000 Block Del Oro Road, Twentynine Palms.

SUSPECT(S):

Agustin Saucedo, 27 year old male resident of Michoacan Mexico

Juan Pablo Perez-Lara, 22 year old male resident of Michoacan Mexico

Rosalio Olario-Santos, 49 year old male resident of Phoenix, AZ

Jose Angel Barrera-Ponce, 31 year old male resident of Dinuba, CA

Torres Ambriz-Virgilo, 28 year old male resident of Dinuba, CA

Shilong Li, 56 year old male resident of Sacramento, CA

Guangpong Wen, 49 year old female resident of Sacramento, CA

Sean Brogan, 60 year old male resident of Twentynine Palms, CA