Source: Office of United States Attorneys
Grow Site, Which Used 33,780 Gallons of Water Daily, Contained Highly Toxic and Illegal Chemicals
SAN JOSE – Jacinto Correa Cruz, 56, a Mexican national, pleaded guilty in federal court this week to one count of depredation against federal lands and one count of manufacture of, and possession with intent to manufacture and distribute, marijuana plants, stemming from his participation in a large-scale illegal cannabis cultivation operation in the Los Padres National Forest.
As part of his plea agreement entered on Dec. 17, 2024, Correa Cruz admitted to damaging federal property by willfully participating in an illegal marijuana grow operation on public lands and knowingly manufacturing marijuana plants. According to court documents, Correa Cruz was arrested in July 2022 during a multi-agency search of a large-scale marijuana cultivation complex in an area of the Los Padres National Forest known as the “Ventana Complex.” The complex is located in the Ventana Wilderness region of the national forest, a federally protected area that is known as a top “biodiversity hotspot” and is home to more threatened and endangered species than any other national forest in California.
The search and investigation of the cultivation site where Correa Cruz was arrested revealed two plots that had been cleared of most native vegetation to make way for approximately 10,000 marijuana plants. Law enforcement also discovered a camp area with a tent and 15 sleeping bags, and a kitchen area with thousands of pounds of trash and dead animal parts.
Significant quantities of hazardous materials and chemicals were also found on site. The illegal marijuana grow also had an irrigation system with two large water structures fed by a hose that was diverting water from a natural source. An environmental damage assessment found that the illegal operation diverted and used approximately 33,780 gallons of water a day in an area that was experiencing severe drought conditions. Furthermore, highly toxic and illegal chemicals, such as carbofuran, methamidophos, and diphacinone, were found on site and detected in the soil and water. These pesticides are known to have killed sensitive and endangered wildlife species throughout California. Fixing the environmental damage to this area cost over $92,540 per site and required a multi-step process spanning over a year.
“The illegal cultivation of marijuana on public land poses significant environmental risks to public lands and wildlife that must be combatted. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to prosecute those who abuse natural resources and harm the environment while illegally growing marijuana on federal land,” said United States Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey.
“Disrupting and dismantling the illegal cultivation of marijuana on federal lands remains a top priority for the U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations team. We are committed to protecting our nation’s valuable resources for future generations and ensuring our national forests are safe for recreational use. This allows the public to enjoy these spaces without concerns for their health and safety. Our efforts would not have been possible without the strong cooperation of our partners at the Integral Ecology Research Center, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said Brandon Robinson, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Law Enforcement and Investigations, Pacific Southwest Region.
“Jacinto Correa Cruz helped poison the pristine lands of the Los Padres National Forest,” said Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) San Francisco Special Agent in Charge Robert Tripp. “He now stands accountable for the damage that will take years to heal. We will continue to stand firm with our federal, state, and local partners to keep our lands safe and prevent further depredation.”
Correa Cruz has been in federal custody since Aug. 22, 2022. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 4, 2025, before the Honorable Eumi K. Lee, United States District Judge. Defendant faces a maximum statutory penalty for each offense of 20 years in prison and a fine of $1,000,000, plus restitution. Any sentence will be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
Assistant United States Attorney Anne C. Hsieh is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Sara Slattery. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by USFS and the FBI, with assistance from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.