Local News

OPERATION HAMMER STRIKE: WEEKS 47 AND 48, 36 GROWS, 31 ARRESTS

Between July 18 and 31 investigators from the Sheriff’s Marijuana Enforcement Team, the MET, along with local patrol deputies, served 36 search warrants at various locations including two in Twentynine Palms, and one each in Joshua Tree, Yucca Valley, and Morongo Valley.

MET had received numerous complaints about large outdoor and indoor marijuana cultivations. Over the past two weeks, Sheriff’s personnel located and arrested 31 suspects. Investigators seized 35,965 marijuana plants, 8,384 pounds of processed marijuana, 12 guns, 14,268 grams of concentrated marijuana, and over $96,000.00 in cash. 

Investigators eradicated a total of 206 greenhouses and 16 indoor locations.  Investigators mitigated three THC extraction labs, two electrical bypasses, and recovered one stolen vehicle and one stolen handgun. The investigations revealed the cannabis cultivations were not in compliance with State and County laws.

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 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.

SUSPECTS:

William Villalobos, 18 year old male resident of Littlerock, CA. Location #2
Pascual Martinez, 28 year old male resident of Menifee, CA. Location #3
Jorge Ruelas, 25 year old male resident of Mexico. Location #4
Jesus Cordero, 42 year old male resident of Hesperia, CA. Location #7
Salvador Villagomez, 44 year old male resident of Hesperia, CA. Location #8
Kangjie Li, 23 year old male resident of Chicago, IL. Location #11
Shilun Gao, 49 year old male resident of San Gabriel, CA. Loccation #11
Joshua Day, 29 year old male resident of Hesperia, CA. Location #12
Tate Claybaker, 24 year old male resident of Hesperia, CA. Location #12
Sevak Sahakyan, 50 year old male resident of Glendale, CA. Location #15
Narek Sahakyan, 19 year old male resident of Glendale, CA. Location #15
Vanh Thach, 50 year old male resident of Twentynine Palms, CA. Location #16
Maneul Zamora, 50 year old male resident of Wrightwood, CA. Location #16
Benz Hong Zhu, 58 year old male resident of China. Location #17
Miles Hensly, 35 year old male resident of Banning, CA. Location #18
Mark Hensly, 61 year old male resident of Carrolton, KY. Location #18
Benjamin Nelson, 28 year old male resident of Chandler, AZ. Location #19
Kyle Hise, 27 year old male resident of Chandler, AZ. Location #19
Yeva Ghevondyan, 46 year old female resident of Hesperia, CA. Location #23
Sarkis Markaryan, 60 year old male resident of Los Angeles, CA. Location #23
Javier Madrigal, 35 year old male resident of Mexico. Location #25
Jorge Madrigal, 20 year old male resident of Mexico. Location #25
Jose Trujillo, 24 year old male resident of Mexico. Location #25
Luciano Rodriguez, 37 year old male resident of Mexico. Locaiton #25
Ky Khampou, 61 year old male resident of Long Beach, CA. Location #28
Jose Garcia, 21 year old male resident of Mexico. Location #33
Jonathan Gutierrez, 35 year old male resident of Mexico. Location #33
David Ramirez, 33 year old male resident of Mexico. Location #33
Carlos Sanchez, 22 year old male resident of Mexico. Location #34
Manuel Rodriguez, 37 year old male resident of Mexico. Location #34
Jose Lopez, 54 year old male resident of Mexico, Location #35

Locations:

#1 – Parcel with no address, Helendale 
#2 – Parcel with no address, Adelanto
#3 – Parcel with no address, Adelanto
#4 – Parcel with no address, Adelanto
#5 – Parcel with no address, Adelanto
#6 – 20700 Block of Sunset Drive, Apple Valley
#7 – 18500 Block of Orange Street, Hesperia
#8 – 9500 Block of Timberlane, Hesperia
#9 – Parcel with no address, El Mirage
#10 – 1000 Block of Calle de Amistad, El Mirage
#11 – Parcel with no address, Adelanto
#12 – 17800 Block of Smoketree, Hesperia
#13 – Parcel with no address, El Mirage
#14 – 14700 Block of Aspen, Hesperia
#15 – 10600 Block of Orchid Avenue, Hesperia
#16 – 6300 Block of Cactus Jack, Twentynine Palms
#17 – 68700 Block of Amboy Road, Twentynine Palms
#18 – 65300 Block of Hoover Road, Joshua Tree
#19 – 2700 Block of Julcrest Road, Yucca Valley
#20 – 8300 Block of Terrace Drive, Morongo Valley
#21 – Parcel with no address, Lucerne Valley
#22 – 8600 Block of Hazel Court, Apple Valley
#23 – 12800 Block of Mission Street, Hesperia
#24 – 2700 Block of Arrowhead Drive, Pinon Hills
#25 – Parcel with no address, Lucerne Valley
#26 – Parcel with no address, Lucerne Valley
#27 – Parcel with no address, Lucerne Valley
#28 – Parcel with no address, Lucerne Valley
#29 – Parcel with no address, Lucerne Valley
#30 – 16400 Block of Eve Road, Apple Valley 
#31 – 7400 Block of Elm Street, Highland
#32 – Parcel with no address, Hinkley
#33 – Parcel with no address, Hinkley
#34 – Parcel with no address, Hinkley
#35 – Parcel with no address, Hinkley
#36 – Parcel with no address, Hinkley
                       


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Gary Daigneault has been a broadcast journalist for 45 years with awards and citations from the Associated Press, National Association of Broadcasters, Radio-Television News Association, Radio Inc. Magazine, five “Golden Mic” and four “Mark Twain” awards.…

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