After uncovering an outdoor marijuana-growing operation in the Santa Barbara foothills off West Camino Cielo, detectives discovered that a missing person case out of Fresno, Calif., — now a homicide investigation — might be linked to the pot farm.
Lengthy surveillance of the marijuana garden eventually led authorities to make arrests and serve search warrants in five counties throughout California in recent months — seizing large amounts of marijuana and cocaine, firearms and cash.
“The message is hopefully clear that we’re not going to stand idly by while criminal enterprises come into our county and ply their trade in our backcountry,” Sheriff Bill Brown said.
Authorities suspect the missing person, 35-year-old Jesus Omar Villa, had been working at the marijuana grow when he was killed. Detectives believe his body might be buried in an unknown location in the foothills above Santa Barbara.
Members of the Sheriff’s Search and Rescue team used specially trained cadaver dogs to scan the marijuana farm for traces of Villa, but were unable to turn up any clues.
Described as 5-foot-2, 160 pounds with black burn scars on his right wrist, Villa has been missing from Fresno since May 18. Detectives asked anyone with information regarding his disappearance or death to call the sheriff’s anonymous tip line at 681-4171.
In total, the investigation resulted in the arrests of 15 adults and two minors on a variety of charges. Authorities also seized 327 pounds of processed marijuana, more than a kilo of cocaine, 11 handguns and $39,000 cash.
In praising the investigative work done by sheriff’s personnel, Brown called the major drug bust a “sterling” response to the growing problem of illegal marijuana gardens in Santa Barbara’s backcountry. Local authorities seized a record amount of marijuana this year — more than 225,000 plants being grown in remotely located operations believed to be linked to Mexican drug cartels.
“Unfortunately, it’s been a record year for the state as well,” Brown said. “The push is on to move a lot of these marijuana-growing operations from south of the border up into the states."
Four subjects wanted
Authorities are still seeking four suspects, including 35-year-old Gamaliel Galindo Cardenas. Known as “Gamas,” Cardenas is believed to be the head of a Mexican national drug-trafficking organization operating in California and possibly Washington.
He has ties to Glendale, Orange Cove, and Lakewood, Wash. His whereabouts are unknown and authorities have secured a $250,000 warrant for his arrest for conspiracy, cultivation of marijuana and possession of marijuana for sale.
Cardenas is described as 5-foot-6, 165 pounds. He may be driving a late-model maroon Ford or Chevy pickup truck.
Detectives also secured $250,000 arrest warrants for Rigoberto Alvare Cruz, 29; Gerardo Farfan, 26; and Juventino Lara Arrellano, 51. All three suspects are believed to be workers involved with the illegal marijuana grow off West Camino Cielo and may be in the Glendale or Fresno areas. Anyone with information regarding their whereabouts should contact sheriff’s detectives at 681-4100 or call the anonymous tip line at 681-4171.
17 suspects arrested
The following 15 adults, along with two unidentified minors, face a variety of charges including conspiracy, drug-related violations, weapons violations and other felony counts. Authorities identified at least five of the suspects as Mexican nationals.
-Salvador Cardenas, 33, of Glendale
-Eloy Chavez, 33, of Orange Cove
-Augustin Cornejo, 21, of Cutler
-Saul Cortez, 25, of Cutler
-Rigoberto Cruz, 39, of Glendale
-Reynaldo Olivera, 27, of Glendale
-Bernardo Olvera, 43, of Glendale
-Joba Ortega, 39, of Los Angeles
-Marcos Rosales, 36, of Los Angeles
-Moises Torres, 30, of Modesto
-Uriel Torres, 32, of Orange Cove
-Jose Valdovinos, 45, of Cutler
-Alejandro Vargas, 24, of Cutler
-Rene Vargas, 39, of Cutler
-Arturo Zamora, 23, of Glendale
Arrests spanned two months, five counties
A handful of arrests occurred on September 11, after detectives spotted two vehicles leaving the marijuana grow. Authorities followed the vehicles into Ventura County, where they conducted traffic stops with the help of Ventura sheriff’s deputies.
Five suspects were taken into custody, and law enforcement officials seized 41 pounds of processed marijuana and a loaded semiautomatic handgun.
The following day, detectives prepared to serve search warrants on two homes in East Los Angeles. While conducting surveillance in the area, Glendale police detectives attempted to stop a vehicle seen leaving on of the residences.
“During the traffic stop, a 15-year-old male who was driving the vehicle began ramming the police cars,” according to a Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Department news release. “The juvenile was quickly taken into custody for assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer.”
As authorities served search warrants on the two homes, detectives detained one woman attempting to flee with a kilo of cocaine. Law enforcement officers also arrested one man who was trying to flush a large amount of marijuana down a toilet.
A total of three adults and one minor were arrested, along with the seizure of 71 pounds of processed marijuana, a kilo of cocaine and four semiautomatic handguns, authorities said.
On September 14, local authorities eradicated the marijuana grow off West Camino Cielo — destroying roughly 5,000 plants that had already been harvested, along with 200 growing plants. Law enforcement also cleared pesticides, herbicides, trash and camping gear from the site.
Suspects planned to spark wildfire
Sheriff’s officials said they learned the suspected marijuana growers had planned to ignite a brush fire in the area to burn any remaining evidence.
Brown noted that a wildfire that burned nearly 90,000 acres in a remote area of North Santa Barbara County earlier this year had started at an illegal marijuana farm, although investigators believed that blaze was sparked accidentally.
“The La Brea fire really showed us that this is not just simply a question of whether or not illegal drugs are being grown here — it is a safety impact to the whole community,” he said. “Certainly the main danger is the threat of a fire in the backcountry, but there is also the environmental damage being done by these people who have no regard for our environment.”
The recent investigation culminated on October 8, when authorities served five search warrants in Fresno, Tulare, San Luis Obispo and Los Angeles counties. During that operation, detectives arrested seven people and seized roughly 205 pounds of marijuana, half an ounce of cocaine, and two loaded semiautomatic handguns.
“The investigation is ongoing, however detectives are getting very limited cooperation from the suspects they have in custody and the body of Villa may never be found,” according to the sheriff’s news release. “Detectives are confident that, if Villa’s body is located and it is determined that his death is the result of a homicide, they have their suspect in custody.”
By the Numbers
-Six-month investigation spanning five counties
-17 suspects in custody
-Four suspects wanted
-5,000 marijuana plants
-327 pounds of processed marijuana
-2.3 pounds of cocaine
-11 firearms
-$39,000 cash
-$16 million worth of drugs seized or eradicated