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Huge pot raid on San Juan Ridge

ridiculous morning here in the foothills to say the least. soooo many different agencies involved. also, interesting that the raid occurred on the same day that the Nevada City city council decides whether or not to allow medical marijuana dispensaries in the city limits or not..

http://www.theunion.com/article/20090909/WEBUPDATE/909099998/1066&ParentProfile=1053

Huge pot raid on San Juan Ridge
12 arrested, police swarming area
By Liz Kellar
and Dave Moller
Staff Writers,
Almost 200 law enforcement officers and agents are raiding an alleged major marijuana growing operation today at 10 locations in the North San Juan area, according to the Nevada County Sheriff's Office.

Local, regional, state and federal authorities also had seven arrest warrants for several individuals involved in the operation, according to Sheriff Keith Royal.

Arrested was Charles Hilkey, 55, of North San Juan, on suspicion of being involved in the cultivation and distribution of large quantities of marijuana.

Eleven other people were arrested at a site on Badger Hill Road. Authorities in multiple vehicles and three helicopters were swarming the San Juan Ridge at 10:15 a.m. as the raid unfolded.

The situation began during the summer of 2007, when the Nevada County Narcotics Task Force identified Hilkey as possibly being involved in marijuana cultivation and distribution.

In the early part of 2008, the Nevada County Narcotics Task Force, Internal Revenue Service, and the Drug Enforcement Administration began a multi-agency financial investigation regarding Hilkey.

During the investigation into Hilkey's financial records, the IRS determined he allegedly made multiple structured deposits at various banks in the amount of hundreds of thousands of dollars and earned approximately $1.9 million in marijuana proceeds over the past two years.

During the summer months of 2008 and 2009, the Nevada County Sheriff's Narcotics Task Force and the DEA conducted an investigation that revealed Hilkey owned approximately 360 acres in North San Juan.

Since 2008, by way of aerial surveillance and reconnaissance, agents have allegedly discovered multiple outdoor and potential indoor marijuana cultivations being conducted within the 360 acres.

The contingent of law enforcement officers includes: the Nevada County Sheriff's Narcotics Task Force, DEA, IRS, MAVMIT, Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement, Yolo County Sheriff's Department, Placer County Sheriff's Department, Butte County Sheriff's Department, California Highway Patrol, Grass Valley Police Department, Net-5 (Yuba-Sutter), and El Dorado Sheriff's Department executed federal search warrants on the 10 locations.

Check back for updates to the story.
 

Phillthy

Seven-Thirty
ICMag Donor
Veteran
they spent more in reconnaissance and paying all those agencies man hours then they removed off the streets. doesn't seem cost effective to me...
 
D

DogBoy

He's more interested in how much money they can sting him for than the fact he's growing pot. It shows you they dont mind the pot plants, they just want a cut. I believe years ago that was called protection money?
 
He's more interested in how much money they can sting him for than the fact he's growing pot. It shows you they dont mind the pot plants, they just want a cut. I believe years ago that was called protection money?

I agree.. protection or Tax..look at gambling..all the "offshore" web sites are in legal trouble but not horse racing.. which is always an exception to the gambling laws, why? the states control and TAX the wagers.

Peace
 

Hash Man

Member
the cops love this type of stuff...makes them look like they are wrking hard... now they can leave everyone else on the ridege alone.. sux for him, but he was investigated due to making MULTIPLE deposits over 100,000 dollars or more into VARIOUS banks lol... up to 1.9 mil. what was he thinking?

BTW, they swarmed the area at 800AM... and posted a blog about what happened 38 min later.
 
follow up the day after..

http://yubanet.com/regional/602-Marijuana-Plants-Destroyed.php
http://yubanet.com/regional/Marijuana-Seizure-in-North-San-Juan.php

602 Marijuana Plants Destroyed, 135 Pounds of Processed Marijuana Removed Yesterday in North San Juan

September 10, 2009 - Updated information on yesterday’s press release regarding the North San Juan marijuana garden raid:

602 marijuana plants removed
$200,000 cash recovered
135 pounds of processed marijuana removed
2 federal arrests, (one was Charles Hilkey, do not have the name of the other individual)
2 outstanding federal arrest warrants

2 county arrests as follows:
Melissa Thomas, age 51, of North San Juan, charged with planting/cultivating marijuana

Douglas Schuurman, age 32, of Clairmont, CA, charged with planting/cultivating marijuana; transporting/selling marijuana; and criminal conspiracy.
 
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