Operation Hammer Strike, Week 23: 31 Suspects Arrested as Investigators Eradicate Another 424 Greenhouses
Photo: just one of many
Originally published as a San Bernardino Sheriff’s Derpartment Nixle post –
INCIDENT: Outdoor Marijuana Cultivations-Operation Hammer Strike, Week 23
LOCATION: #1 – 2700 Block of Falderman, Twentynine Palms
#2 – 2600 Block of Falderman, Twentynine Palms
#3 – 75400 Block of Sunny Sands, Twentynine Palms
#4 – Parcel with no address, El Mirage
#5 – Parcel with no address, El Mirage
#6 – Parcel with no address, El Mirage
#7 – Parcel with no address, El Mirage
#8 – Parcel with no address, Landers
#9 – Parcel with no address, Landers
#10 – Parcel with no address, Landers
#11 – 29800 Block of Sherwood Street, Lucerne Valley
#12 – 8900 Block of Daisy Road, Phelan
#13 – 23800 Block of Huasna, Apple Valley
#14 – 10800 Block of Peach Avenue, Hesperia
#15 – Parcel with no address, Adelanto
#16 – Parcel with no address, Adelanto
#17 – 20000 Block of Chamisal, El Mirage
#18 – Parcel with no address, Adelanto
#19 – Parcel with no address, Adelanto
#20 – Parcel with no address, Adelanto
#21 – 1100 Block of Markham, El Mirage
#22 – 1000 Block of Plato Street, El Mirage
#23 – 100 Block of East 9th, Pomona
#24 – 500 Block of Harrison Road, Monterey Park
#25 – 1900 Block of West Main Street, Alhambra
SUSPECT(S): Lin Qin Li, 54 year old male resident of Queens, NY. Location #5
Xinchun Chen, 36 year old male resident of Dallas, TX. Location #5
Sunchang Lin, 31 year old male resident of Sacramento, CA. Location #5
Li Qin Chen, 53 year old female resident of Queens, NY. Location #5
Steven Ni, 47 year old male resident of Queens, NY. Location #5
Pedro Garcia, 40 year old male resident of Los Angeles, CA. Location #5
Flor Morales, 27 year old female resident of Montgomery, AL. Location #5
Osbaldo Alvarez, 32 year old male resident of Richmond, CA. Location #10
Gilberto Figueroa, 23 year old male resident of Santa Rosa, CA. Location #11
Juan Sanchez, 28 year old male resident of Ceres, CA. Location #11
Jesus Gutierrez, 47 year old male resident of Medford, OR. Location #15
Abel Solorio, 24 year old male resident of Adelanto, CA. Location #16
Xuewei Tao, 53 year old male resident of Los Angeles, CA. Location #17
Youngyin Mei, 66 year old male resident of New York, NY. Location #17
Tianbing Chen, 40 year old male resident of Philadelphia, PA. Location #17
Hong Ju, 49 year old female resident of Monterey Park, CA. Location #17
Youbin Chen, 57 year old male resident of Allentown, NY. Location #17
Changing Wang, 54 year old male resident of Indianapolis, IN. Location #17
Luis Arturo, 37 year old male resident of Phelan, CA. Location #20
Pedro Gamboa, 33 year old male resident of Los Angeles, CA. Location #20
Jose Rodriguez, 34 year old male resident of Adelanto, CA. Location #20
Deonecio Sanchez, 41 year old male resident of Los Angeles, CA. Location #20
Jose Rodriguez, 43 year old male resident of Bellflower, CA. Location #20
Xiabing Dong, 41 year old male resident of Monterey Park, CA. Location #21
Wenqing Qiu, 39 year old female resident of Alhambra, CA. Location #21
Tai Fang, 63 year old male resident of Reading, MA. Location #21
Changdong Chen, 47 year old male resident of New York, NY. Location #21
Zihang Weng, 27 year old male resident of Los Angeles, CA. Location #22
Saiqin Jiang, 33 year old female resident of Monterey Park, CA. Location #24
Andy Cheng, 32 year old male resident of Monterey Park, CA. Location #24
SUMMARY: Between January 31, 2022, and February 6, 2022, investigators from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department – Marijuana Enforcement Team (MET), along with San Bernardino Sheriff’s deputies from several different Patrol Stations, served 25 search warrants at various locations in Landers, Twentynine Palms, Lucerne Valley, El Mirage, Phelan, Apple Valley, Hesperia, Pomona, Alhambra, and Monterey Park. MET personnel had received numerous complaints about large outdoor and indoor marijuana cultivations in these areas. Over this past week, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s personnel located and arrested 31 suspects, seized 63,935 marijuana plants, 2,502.5 pounds of processed marijuana, four guns, and over $471,000.00 in cash. Investigators eradicated a total of 424 greenhouses found at these locations and four indoor locations, one electrical bypass, and one THC extraction lab.
The investigations revealed the cannabis cultivations were not in compliance with California’s Medical and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MAUCRSA) and San Bernardino County’s ordinance prohibiting Commercial Cannabis Activity. San Bernardino County has a law prohibiting Commercial Cannabis Activity, including growing marijuana plants outdoors.
The Sheriff’s Gangs/Narcotics Division will continue to enforce California’s cannabis laws and San Bernardino County’s ordinance regarding cannabis cultivation and distribution. Persons found guilty of violating the state law and county ordinance are subject to fines, prosecution, and seizure of property.
Property owners who are growing marijuana or are aware their tenants are growing marijuana on their properties in violation of the state law and local ordinances may also be subject to civil or criminal sanctions. Property owners are encouraged to contact their local law enforcement or code compliance agency to confirm if cultivating cannabis is prohibited or allowed under specific regulations.
The suspects were cited or booked on charges of Cultivation of Cannabis, over six plants, Possession for Sales of Marijuana, Illegal Water Discharge, Manufacturing a Controlled Substance, Utility Theft, and Conspiracy.
