Modesto Man Sentenced to Over 8 Years in Prison for Illegally Cultivating Marijuana in the Stanislaus National Forest

FRESNO, Calif. — Jose Garcia-Zamora, 30, of Modesto, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston to eight years and four months in prison for illegally cultivating marijuana in the Stanislaus National Forest and possessing a firearm in furtherance of that offense, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, in July 2019, law enforcement agents found a large marijuana grow that contained over 2,600 marijuana plants. At the grow site, agents encountered Garcia-Zamora. He had been tending to the marijuana and was carrying a loaded pistol. On April 1, 2022, Garcia-Zamora pleaded guilty to the charges.

This case was the product of an investigation by the U.S. Forest Service and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin J. Gilio prosecuted the case.