SACRAMENTO, Calif. - A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment today against Agustin Rodriguez-Sandoval, 44, and Gustavo Barraza-Barboza, 33, both Mexican nationals, charging them with conspiracy to grow marijuana, growing marijuana, and damaging public lands, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.
According to court records, the two men were arrested on Oct. 12, 2018, following a raid on a marijuana-cultivation site on public land near Likely, California, in the Modoc National Forest, in Modoc County. Agents eradicated over 3,300 growing marijuana plants at the site and seized another recently harvested 800 marijuana plants.
This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Forest Service, the Modoc County Sheriff’s Office, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
If convicted of either of the marijuana charges, both defendants face a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, and a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $10 million fine. If convicted of damaging public lands, the defendants face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, would be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. These charges are only allegations; the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
