Illegal Marijuana Enforcement Team detectives, which is comprised of multiple agencies including personnel from Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Medford Police Department, and a number of other agencies, served multiple search warrants on two black-market marijuana grow sites in as many days.
The combined, the raids uncovered 15,000 lbs. of processed illegal marijuana, more than 20-thousand plants yet to be cultivated, five firearms, and nearly $650,000 in cash. Overall, three warrants were served, and one suspect has been arrested. During the raids on both properties, 111 workers were taken into custody, interviewed, and released.
The first raid was early Tuesday morning at 7:11am, where investigations led Illegal Marijuana Enforcement Team detectives to a property in Gold Hill. At this location, detectives found bags of cash totaling $643,524, five firearms, and forged identification. In a nearby storage room, investigations uncovered 10,000 lbs. of processed marijuana which was previously weighed, separated, and individually packaged for distribution.
A total of 58 workers were taken into custody and one man was arrested. The suspect, Hernan Sanchez Villalobos, 33, a Mexican citizen and the Gold Hill property owner, was arrested for felony charges of prohibited import or export, unlawful possession, unlawful manufacture, and conspiracy for unlawful distribution of a marijuana item, as well as second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument (fake ID), and laundering a monetary instrument. The property had no permits to grow or process marijuana for recreational, commercial, or medical purposes.
The very next day on Wednesday at 7:49am, IMET served a search warrant at an additional black-market marijuana grow site in Eagle Point. At this site, detectives discovered 20,199 plants in 102 greenhouses, and 5,000 lbs. of processed illegal marijuana. On the property, 53 workers were taken into custody, interviewed, and released. The property had an Oregon Department of Agriculture license to grow hemp, but was not permitted to grow or process marijuana for recreational or medical purposes.
Investigations are open and ongoing with detectives working additional leads. No further information is currently available for release.
