Between October 4, 2021, and October 10, 2021, investigators from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department – Marijuana Enforcement Team (MET), along with San Bernardino Sheriff’s deputies from several different patrol stations, served 23 search warrants at various locations in Lucerne Valley, Twentynine Palms, Alhambra, Monterey Park, Highland, Yucaipa, Muscoy, Landers, Pinon Hills, Chino Hills, Hinkley, Spring Valley Lake, and Phelan. MET personnel had received numerous complaints about large outdoor and indoor marijuana cultivations in these areas. Through week six, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s personnel located and arrested 32 suspects. Investigators seized 23,553 marijuana plants, 2,267 pounds of processed marijuana, 14 guns, and $43,400.00 in cash. Investigators eradicated a total of 123 greenhouses found at these locations.

The investigations revealed the cannabis cultivations were not in compliance with California’s Medical and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MAUCRSA) and San Bernardino County’s ordinance prohibiting Commercial Cannabis Activity.  San Bernardino County has a law prohibiting Commercial Cannabis Activity, which includes growing marijuana plants outdoors.  

The Sheriff’s Gangs/Narcotics Division will continue to enforce California’s cannabis laws and San Bernardino County’s ordinance regarding cannabis cultivation and distribution.  Persons found guilty of violating the state law and county ordinance are subject to fines, prosecution, and seizure of property. 

The suspects were cited or booked on charges of Cultivation of Cannabis; over six plants, Possession of a Dangerous Drug, Manufacturing a Controlled Substance, Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Electrical Theft, Possession for Sales of Marijuana, and Possession of a Dangerous Drug While Armed.

Locations, where warrants were served, are:

1. 20200 Block of Melville Road, Lucerne Valley
2. Parcel with no address, Lucerne Valley
3. Parcel with no address, Lucerne Valley
4. 31800 Block of Bumpkin Road, Lucerne Valley
5. 7600 Block of Cattleman Road, Lucerne Valley
6. 33200 Block of Haynes Road, Lucerne Valley
7. 1000 Block of Sunrise Road, Twentynine Palms
8. Parcel with no address, Twentynine Palms
9. Parcel with no address, Twentynine Palms
10. Parcel with no address, Twentynine Palms
11. 71500 Block of Winters Road, Twentynine Palms
12. 171400 Block of Winters Road, Twentynine Palms
13. 1600 Block of 5th Street, Alhambra
14. 300 Block of Sefton Avenue, Monterey Park
15. 13500 Block of Treasure Way, Chino Hills
16. 27400 Block of Pacific, Highland
17. 12200 Block of Thomas Lane, Yucaipa
18. 2000 Block of Adams Street, Muscoy
19. 60200 Block of Mitch Lane, Landers
20. Parcel with no address, Pinon Hills
21. Parcel with no address, Pinon Hills
22. Parcel with no address, Hinkley
23. Parcel with no address, Hinkley
24. Parcel with no address, Hinkley
25. 10800 Block of Mariner, Spring Valley Lake
26. 3500 Block of Seagull, Spring Valley Lake
27. Parcel with no address, Pinon Hills
28. Parcel with no address, Pinon Hills
29. 2800 Block of Estero Road, Pinon Hills
30. Parcel with no address, Pinon Hills

Suspects arrested are as follows:

• Jose Antonio, 35-year-old male resident of Lucerne Valley, Ca. Location #4
• Rose Maria, a 66-year-old female resident of Lucerne Valley, Ca. Location #4
• Cipriano Martinez Cruz, 40 year old male resident of Mexico. Location #5
• Jesus Carmona, 26-year-old male resident of Mexico. Location #5
• Luis Escamella, 27-year-old male resident of Mexico. Location #5
• Gary Alan Pierre, 65-year-old male resident of Apple Valley, Ca. Location #5
• German Perez Gomez, 36-year-old male resident of Oakland, Ca. Location #6
• Ricardo Perez, 33-year-old male resident of Oakland, Ca. Location #6
• Nisa Soukhaphaly, a 48-year-old female resident of Twentynine Palms, Ca. Location #7
• Bovathong Phakousonh, 42-year-old male resident of Twentynine Palms, Ca. Location #7
• Devyn Edwards, 22-year-old male resident of Milwaukee, Wi. Location #7
• Madetha Phakousonh, a 20-year-old female resident of Milwaukee, Wi. Location #7
• Kyle Miley, 31-year-old male resident of Yucaipa, Ca. Location #17
• Ismael Morfin Morfin, 48 year old male resident of Bloomington, Ca. Location #18
• Floriberto Valazquez, 30-year-old male resident of Mexico. Location #19
• Bruno Zaragoza-Pineda, 33 year old male resident of Visalia, Ca. Location #19
• Juan Zeferino, 23-year-old male resident of Mexico. Location #19
• Heriberto Ziranda, 28-year-old male resident of Mexico. Location #19
• Cristino Zeferino, 30 year old male resident of Visalia, Ca. Location #19
• Emilio Partida, 30-year-old male resident of Mexico. Location #21
• Omar Gante, 31-year-old male resident of Mexico. Location #21
• Luis Gonzalez, 26-year-old male resident of Hinkley, Ca. Location #22
• Alejandro Valencia, 19-year-old male resident of Hinkley, Ca. Location #22
• Jesus Meraz, 19-year-old male resident of Hinkley, Ca. Location #22
• Mauricio Villasenor, 19 year old male resident of Hinkley, Ca. Location #22
• Ju Chen, 51-year-old male resident of Brooklyn, NY. Location #26
• Yufeng Chen, a 48-year-old female resident of Brooklyn, NY. Location #26
• Sheng Chen, 51-year-old male resident of Brooklyn, NY. Location #26
• Blas Daniel Llanes, 23-year-old male resident of Pinon Hills, Ca. Location #27
• Israel Arredondo, 23-year-old male resident of Pinon Hills, Ca. Location #27
• Yahuo Pan, 50-year-old male resident of Pinon Hills, Ca. Location #28
• Andrew Choi, 57-year-old male resident of Los Angeles, Ca. Location #29

Property owners who are growing marijuana or are aware their tenants are growing marijuana on their properties violate the state law and local ordinances; they may also be subject to civil or criminal sanctions. Property owners are encouraged to contact their local law enforcement or code compliance agency to confirm if cultivating cannabis is prohibited or allowed under specific regulations.

To report possible illegal marijuana grows or activities, call the CalCannabis tip line at 1-833-933-3847 (1-833-WEED-TIP) and the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-782-7463 (1-800-78-CRIME) or leave information at www.wetip.com.

Additionally, call the Sheriff’s Gangs/Narcotics Division at 1-909-387-8400 or email NARC-MET@sbcsd.org and let the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors know by emailing the San Bernardino County Clerk of the Board at COB@sbcounty.gov. Residents can also speak to the supervisors during their board meetings. This can be done in person or virtually at one of the county’s several government centers. Visit sbcounty.gov/main/pages/BOS for more information.

Residents can also report suspected violations to Code Enforcement via their website at sbcountylus.force.com/lus/servicetypes.

Report any suspicious water activity to the Phelan Pinon Hills Community Services District at 760-868-1212 or visit www.pphcsd.org for more information. Or to the Sheep Creek Water Company at 760-868-3755