Mexican National Charged with Growing Marijuana in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment today against Everado Cuadro Campos, 49, of Michoacán, Mexico, charging him with conspiracy to grow marijuana with the intent to distribute it and damaging public lands and natural resources, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, on July 17, 2018, Campos was arrested in a marijuana garden in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest in Shasta County. Water to irrigate the marijuana plants was diverted from the Rock Creek drainage area, and there was an extensive waterline and trail system in the forest to tend to the marijuana plants.

This case is the product of an investigation by the United States Forest Service and the California Department of Fish & Wildlife.

If convicted, Campos faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and up to life in prison and a $10 million fine for the marijuana conspiracy and manufacturing counts. If convicted of the environmental crime, Campos faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. 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. The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.