Operation Hammer Strike, in Weeks 43-44, have arrested another 64 Suspects for Illegal Marijuana Cultivation at 35 locations. Between June 20 and July 3 (2022), the County Sheriff’s Marijuana Enforcement Team (MET) with deputies from patrol stations, served warrants at locations in Phelan, Pinon Hills, Apple Valley, Helendale, Yermo, Newberry Springs, Adelanto, Hesperia, Twentynine Palms, Morongo Valley, Fontana, and Oro Grande.
MET had received numerous complaints about large outdoor and indoor cultivations. Over the two weeks, Sheriff’s personnel arrested 64 people, and seized 54,111 marijuana plants, 10,956 pounds of processed marijuana, two guns, 22,226 grams of concentrated psilocybin mushrooms, and over $2,600.00 in cash. Investigators eradicated 473 greenhouses, eight indoor locations, and one THC extraction lab.
The investigations revealed the cannabis cultivations were not in compliance with state and County laws prohibiting Commercial Cannabis Activity. Property owners who are growing marijuana or are aware their tenants are growing on their properties may also be subject to civil or criminal sanctions.
The suspects were cited or booked on charges of Cultivation of Cannabis, over six plants, Possession for Sales of Marijuana, Possession of Stolen Property, Illegal Water Discharge, Manufacturing a Controlled Substance, and Conspiracy.
Two local residents are among those arrested, Jessica Dickler, 27 of Twentynine Palms for a grow in the 72100 block of Sun Valley Drive and Galo Zurita, 40, for the 52700 block of Apache Trail in Morongo Valley.
Names and Locations of those arrested:
SUSPECT(S): Georgi Rushanyan, 58 year old male resident of Van Nuys, CA. Location #4
Adrian Farias, 18 year old male resident of Mexico. Location #6
Lizet Ramirez, 32 year old female resident of Mexico. Location #6
Alicia Torres, 54 year old female resident of Mexico. Location #6
Valetin Montalvo, 23 year old male resident of Mexico. Location #6
Lorenzo Montalvo, 31 year old male resident of Mexico. Location #6
Luis Rosales, 28 year old male resident of Mexico. Location #6
Juan Hernandez, 32 year old male resident of Mexico. Location #6
Dejesus Montalvo, 30 year old male resident of Mexico. Location #6
Gerardo Gonzalez, 25 year old male resident of Mexico. Location #6
Felipe De Jesus, 25 year old male resident of Delano, CA. Location #6
Jose Bortello, 25 year old male resident of Yermo, CA. Location #11
Dylan Wright, 24 year old male resident of Newberry Springs, CA. Location #16
Daniel Niehaus, 60 year old male resident of Newberry Springs, CA. Location #16
Amberly Grigolla, 46 year old female resident of Barstow, CA. Location #16
Brian Clarke, 56 year old male resident of Las Vegas, NV. Location #16
Colleen Villnow, 63 year old female resident of Newberry Springs, CA. Location #16
Julio Areopagus, 20 year old male resident of Mexico. Location #16
Miguel Arevalo, 23 year old male resident of Mexico. Location #16
Sergio Arevalo, 38 year old male resident of Mexico. Location #16
Hilberto Arevalo, 40 year old male resident of Mexico. Location #16
Rodrigo Arevalo, 27 year old male resident of Mexico. Location #16
Hong Luong, 66 year old male resident of Los Angeles, CA. Location #17
Zhenda He, 33 year old male resident of Arcadia, CA. Location #17
Xianwen Chen, 46 year old male resident of Los Angeles, CA. Location #17
Yi Jian, 43 year old male resident of Rosemead, CA. Location #19
Xiuzhao Liao, 24 year old male resident of Los Angeles, CA. Location #19
Bobo Wei, 40 year old male resident of San Francisco, CA. Location #19
Shi Hu Mo, 36 year old male resident of Grand Junction, CO. Location #20
Lirong Li, 34 year old male resident of Renton, WA. Location #20
Zhigang Yan, 37 year old male resident of Temple City, CA. Location #20
Isabel Medina, 43 year old male resident of Mexico. Location #23
Mario Gallegos, 39 year old male resident of Los Angeles, CA. Location #23
