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War has been declared on Nevada County pot farmers who are growing large plantations, some of them under the guise of medical marijuana.
On Thursday, federal and local drug agents raided three plantations in the Big Oak Valley area, arresting three men and seizing 190 high-quality marijuana plants and 13 guns. The well-groomed plants were worth about $1.4 million in street value, according to the sheriff's office.
The Big Oak Valley raid comes amid a widening crackdown on commercial pot farms and just three months after law enforcement tightened the limits on marijuana grown for medical purposes - despite some stiff opposition.
"We're considered by some to be the emerald triangle because of all of the grows we've had under the guise of medical marijuana," said county Sheriff Keith Royal. "We've seized 30,000 plants already this year and a number of guns."
More raids are planned in the future, he added.
The arrests, made at locations between Penn Valley and Smartville, were handled in concert with the Nevada County Narcotics Task Force utilizing Federal Drug Enforcement Administration warrants.
"We asked for help through the U.S. Attorney, and the DEA came through with the warrants," Royal said.
Federal charges carry more jail time upon conviction than state cases, the sheriff said. The three arrested on U.S. marijuana cultivation charges included Michael E. Lombardo Jr. 49, who allegedly had 100 plants growing on Greenview Court.
Lombardo had a state medical marijuana recommendation, but Nevada County limits legal growers to six plants, and federal agents do not recognize the growing right in California at all. He was in the Sacramento County Jail late Friday and no bail amount was available.
The second man arrested was Erik W. Cederholm, 31, who allegedly was growing 60 plants on five acres on Eldore Road. Cederholm was also in custody at the Sacramento County Jail with an unavailable bail amount.
The third was Jared Painter, 28, who allegedly had 30 plants on St. Helena Drive, Royal said. He was booked at the Wayne Brown Correctional Facility and released after making a $10,000 bail.
All three busts Thursday involved well-groomed plants with the ability to produce two to three pounds of high-quality pot per plant "and a lot of money," Royal said.
A pickup truck was seized under federal asset forfeiture laws, along with guns at all three residences, including four handguns, four shotguns and five rifles, he said.
Federal authorities are seeking to seize their residences and property under U.S. asset forfeiture laws.
Previous busts have included several large plantations in the South Yuba River canyon near the Independence Trail that authorities suspect were tied to Mexican drug cartels.
"This is commonplace now and all too frequent," the sheriff said. "These folks are going to defend against someone stealing their product, and we worry about people getting hurt."
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To contact Senior Staff Writer Dave Moller, e-mail davem@theunion.com or call 477-4237.
Who to
contact
If people stumble upon an illegal marijuana growing operation, they should call the Sheriff's Office at 265-1471 or the Narcotics Task Force at 478-7987.
Callers who wish to remain anonymous can call 265-4178.
On Thursday, federal and local drug agents raided three plantations in the Big Oak Valley area, arresting three men and seizing 190 high-quality marijuana plants and 13 guns. The well-groomed plants were worth about $1.4 million in street value, according to the sheriff's office.
The Big Oak Valley raid comes amid a widening crackdown on commercial pot farms and just three months after law enforcement tightened the limits on marijuana grown for medical purposes - despite some stiff opposition.
"We're considered by some to be the emerald triangle because of all of the grows we've had under the guise of medical marijuana," said county Sheriff Keith Royal. "We've seized 30,000 plants already this year and a number of guns."
More raids are planned in the future, he added.
The arrests, made at locations between Penn Valley and Smartville, were handled in concert with the Nevada County Narcotics Task Force utilizing Federal Drug Enforcement Administration warrants.
"We asked for help through the U.S. Attorney, and the DEA came through with the warrants," Royal said.
Federal charges carry more jail time upon conviction than state cases, the sheriff said. The three arrested on U.S. marijuana cultivation charges included Michael E. Lombardo Jr. 49, who allegedly had 100 plants growing on Greenview Court.
Lombardo had a state medical marijuana recommendation, but Nevada County limits legal growers to six plants, and federal agents do not recognize the growing right in California at all. He was in the Sacramento County Jail late Friday and no bail amount was available.
The second man arrested was Erik W. Cederholm, 31, who allegedly was growing 60 plants on five acres on Eldore Road. Cederholm was also in custody at the Sacramento County Jail with an unavailable bail amount.
The third was Jared Painter, 28, who allegedly had 30 plants on St. Helena Drive, Royal said. He was booked at the Wayne Brown Correctional Facility and released after making a $10,000 bail.
All three busts Thursday involved well-groomed plants with the ability to produce two to three pounds of high-quality pot per plant "and a lot of money," Royal said.
A pickup truck was seized under federal asset forfeiture laws, along with guns at all three residences, including four handguns, four shotguns and five rifles, he said.
Federal authorities are seeking to seize their residences and property under U.S. asset forfeiture laws.
Previous busts have included several large plantations in the South Yuba River canyon near the Independence Trail that authorities suspect were tied to Mexican drug cartels.
"This is commonplace now and all too frequent," the sheriff said. "These folks are going to defend against someone stealing their product, and we worry about people getting hurt."
ooo
To contact Senior Staff Writer Dave Moller, e-mail davem@theunion.com or call 477-4237.
Who to
contact
If people stumble upon an illegal marijuana growing operation, they should call the Sheriff's Office at 265-1471 or the Narcotics Task Force at 478-7987.
Callers who wish to remain anonymous can call 265-4178.
