Feds Bust Illegal Pot Growers On Colorado Public Lands

Patch
Multiple illegal growers were sentenced to years in prison after a series of 2017 busts on U.S. Forest Service and BLM lands.

DENVER, CO – Federal busts of marijuana growers on Colorado public lands confiscated tens of thousands of illegal pot plants and have led to multiple prison sentences this year. A series of investigations were brought in partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management and the Department of Homeland Security, the Colorado U.S. Attorney's Office said.

In 2017, investigators, working with local law enforcement, dismantled marijuana operations in White River National Forest, Whitewater, Colorado, in the San Isabel National Forest and on islands in the Colorado River. More than 70,000 illegal plants were confiscated from 38 acres of Colorado public lands.

The black-market grows caused a significant environmental impact, the agency said. In the San Isabel National Forest, for example, the Forest Service hauled out 5,000 lbs. of trash and infrastructure built from cut pine timber creating man-made reservoirs.

"It took hundreds of hours to clean up each site to mitigate the environmental harm to the public lands," a statement from the U.S. Attorney's office said.

“Public lands are just that – they’re public and belong to all of us,” said U.S. Attorney Bob Troyer, in a press release. “These black marketers abuse our land, our water, our animals and plants. With these prosecutions we motivate black marketers to make less harmful occupational choices.”

Related: DEA, Police Raid Dozens Of Pot Grow-Ops In Metro Area

Here are the DOJ's summaries of the cases prosecuted in 2017:

  • United States v. Santos Ramirez-Alvarez and Santos Ramirez-Carrillo: On two islands in the Colorado River near DeBeque, Colorado, approximately 9,100 marijuana plants were found growing on BLM land. Water from the Colorado river was diverted to irrigate the grow, while money derived from the grow went to individuals in Sinaloa, Mexico. Two defendants were arrested, charged, and pled guilty to a conspiracy to manufacture and distribute marijuana. They were sentenced to 57 months and 60 months in prison, respectively.

  • United States v. Fernando Esquivel Herrera: In the White River National Forest, near Placita, Colorado, approximately 2,700 marijuana plants were found growing on about 8 acres of public land, with another 3,000 plants already harvested. Multiple bottles of WD-40 were found at the site. The defendant was charged with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute marijuana plants, along with other crimes. He was sentenced to 60 months in prison.

  • United States v. Neil Andrew McKay: On BLM land near Whitewater, Colorado, approximately 100 marijuana plants were located. The defendant – who was homeless -- was found with a loaded handgun in his possession. He was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day in prison.

  • United States v. Vincente Medrano Duque: In the San Isabel National Forest near Rye, Colorado, approximately 7,500 plants were located on a grow affecting approximately four acres. The defendant was charged and pled guilty to conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute marijuana plants, land depredation, and illegal reentry. Sentencing is scheduled for the end of August.

  • United States v. Danilo Jemenez-Lopez and Margarito Yepez-Sanchez: In the San Isabel National Forest near Rye, Colorado, approximately 14,000 marijuana plants were located on a grow affecting approximately twelve acres. Two defendants were charged, and one pled guilty to conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess marijuana, as well as land depredation. The case against defendant Jemenez-Lopez is still pending.

  • United States v. Cutberto Reyes-Martinez, Gildardo Mendez-Arizmendi, Martin Sandoval-Arizmendi, and Pedro Fernando Segovia Rosales: In the San Isabel National Forest near Salida, Colorado, approximately 4,000 marijuana plants were located on a grow affecting approximately seven acres. Four defendants were charged and pled guilty to conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute marijuana plants. Two defendants were also charged and pled guilty to illegal reentry. The defendants were sentenced individually to 20, 24, 60 and 24 months in prison.

  • United States v. Virgilio Alain Reyes Cervantes and Erik Pimental Magana Plata: In the San Isabel National Forest near Rye, Colorado, approximately 9,000 marijuana plants were found on a grow affecting approximately seven acres. Two defendants were charged with conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute marijuana. They were sentenced to 15 and 21 months in prison, respectively.

“Illegal marijuana grows on public lands pose safety and environmental risks to all of us," said Gary Mannino, BLM Colorado special agent in charge. "We will continue to work with local, state and federal agencies to ensure that the public is safe when they recreate on their lands, and that we protect the natural resources in our care.”

Image via Shutterstock


Stay up-to-date with Metro Denver news with Patch! There are many ways for you to connect and stay in touch: Newsletters and Email Newsletters and Email Alerts|Facebook