35 Arrested for Illegal Firearms, Cultivation Charges 

February 16, 2024 - Kern County Sheriff's Office officials report that on February 14, 2024, at approximately 9:00 a.m., the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, Kern County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force (KC-HIDTA), executed a search warrant on an illegal indoor marijuana grow operation that was discovered in a large warehouse in the 3400 block of Getty Street, Bakersfield. Wardens from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife/Cannabis Enforcement Program (CEP) and officers from the Kern County Probation Department assisted in the execution of the search warrant and the arrests of 35 suspects found to be involved in operating the illegal marijuana grow, and for possessing illegal firearms.  

During the search warrant 14 suspects attempted to hide inside several different grow rooms and refused to comply with law enforcement commands while 21 additional suspects attempted to flee out of the rear of the warehouse. All 35 suspects were eventually detained without further incident. Numerous Kern County Sheriff’s deputies assigned to the Metro Patrol, Court Services, Transportation Unit, and Lerdo Jail section along with Agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) also assisted the KC-HIDTA Task Force with the investigation. 

2,591 marijuana plants were eradicated from the grow rooms and approximately 500 pounds of processed marijuana was seized. 

The following 35 subjects were arrested for maintaining a place for drug sales, cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sales, possession of assault weapons, resisting arrest and for conspiracy to commit a crime. All subjects were transported and booked into the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, Lerdo Justice Facility.

Sergio Rojas (age 50) from Mexico City, Mexico

Jesus Ruiz-Pena, (age 36) from Durango, Mexico

Abraham Ramirez-Quinonez, (ago 45) from Mexico City, Mexico

Arturo Ibarra, (age 62) from Durango, Mexico

Candelario Lopez-Ruiz, (age 55) from Mexico City, Mexico

Cesar Estrada-Aispuro, (age 36) from Mexico City, Mexico

Ciro Felix, (age 23) from Sinaloa, Mexico

Daniel Torres, (age 24) from Mexico City, Mexico

Diana Leon-Torres, (age 23) from Durango, Mexico

Francisco Aispuro-Vizcarra, (age 20) from Mexico City, Mexico

Francisco Felix-Rodriguez, (age 26) from Mexico City, Mexico

German Rojas-Maldonado, (age 46) from Mexico City, Mexico

Giovanni Fernandez-Angulo, (age 25) from Mexico City, Mexico

Gloria Ibarra, (age 68) from Mexico City, Mexico

Gregorio Torres-Pena, (age 25) from Mexico City, Mexico

Ismael Valenzuela-Felix, (age 30) from Sinaloa, Mexico

Jeanette Sanchez, (age 40) from Sun Valley, California

Jesus Fernandez-Nunez, (age 44) from Mexico City, Mexico

Jorge Ramirez-Angulo, (age 31) from Mexico City, Mexico

Jose Cordero-Zazveta, (age 18) from Mexico City, Mexico

Jose Fernandez-Angulo, (age 35) from Mexico City, Mexico

Juan Salazar-Felix, (age 36) from Sinaloa, Mexico

Luis Fernandez-Ruiz, (age 37) from Durango, Mexico

Manuel Ruiz-Angulo, (age 20) from Mexico City, Mexico

Martin Ramirez-Angulo, (age 40) from Mexico City, Mexico

Narciso Aispuro0Lopez, (age 41) from Durango, Mexico

Oscar Fernandez, (age 20) from Culiacan Sinaloa, Mexico

Paz Ruiz-Feliz, (age 45) from Mexico City, Mexico

Pipino Ruiz, (age 45) from Durango, Mexico

Rey Aispuro-Estrada, (age 38) from Sinaloa, Mexico

Ruben Angulo-Ruiz, (age 23) from Mexico City, Mexico

Veronica Vega-Mendoza, (age 34) from Michoacan, Mexico

Victor Fernandez, (age 60) from Durango, Mexico

Hilario Ruiz-Lopez, (age 42) from Mexico City, Mexico

Pedro Lopez-Ruiz, (age 52) from Duarte, Mexico

Source & photos: Kern County Sheriff's Office