In the first case, Jose Antonio Reyna-Chavez (Reyna), 20, of was sentenced today to six years in prison for conspiring to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute marijuana and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Upon completion of his prison term, Reyna is subject to deportation to Mexico.
On August 10, 2015, Reyna pleaded guilty to his involvement in the cultivation of 1,539 marijuana plants in the Blue Canyon area of the Sierra National Forest. He also acknowledged that he possessed a firearm in furtherance of the drug conspiracy. The cultivation operation was close to recreation areas. According to court documents, law enforcement officers found growing plants, processed marijuana, an AK-47 style assault rifle with a loaded high-capacity magazine, and a 12 gauge pump-action shotgun. The marijuana cultivation caused significant damage to the land and natural resources of the forest. Six large helicopter-net loads of material and debris, including fertilizer, propane tanks, and poisons, were removed from the forest. Reyes was ordered to pay $10,093 to the U.S. Forest Service to compensate it for the cleanup costs.
This case was the product of an investigation by the U.S. Forest Service, the California National Guard, and Fresno County Sheriff’s Office.
In the second case, Antonio Garcia-Villa (Garcia), 46, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to manufacture, distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana and possessing firearms in furtherance of a large-scale cultivation operation.
According to court documents, Garcia was paid to tend and water about 8,596 marijuana plants near Little Poso Creek in the Sequoia National Forest. To facilitate the cultivation activities, Garcia possessed a loaded rifle and handgun. The cultivation activities caused extensive damage to the land and natural resources. Native trees and plants were cut down and steep hillsides were terraced to plant the marijuana. Pesticides, including malathion, fertilizer, water lines, trash, clothing and camping equipment were scattered throughout the site. Garcia has agreed to reimburse the U.S. Forest Service for the cleanup costs.
Garcia is scheduled for sentencing on January 19, 2016, before Senior U.S. District Judge Anthony W. Ishii. Garcia faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine for the drug conspiracy and a mandatory minimum consecutive term of five years in prison for the firearm charge. The actual sentence will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory sentencing factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. Garcia also faces deportation to Mexico upon completion of any prison term imposed.
This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Forest Service, Kern County Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Assistant United States Attorney Karen Escobar is prosecuting both cases.
Source: DOJ
