Man Who Participated In Illegal Marijuana Grow Operation In Los Padres National Forest Sentenced To Five Years In Federal Prison

SAN JOSE – Jacinto Correa Cruz, 56, a Mexican national, was sentenced today to 60 months in federal prison for his role in a large-scale illegal cannabis cultivation operation in the Los Padres National Forest.  U.S. District Judge Eumi K. Lee handed down the sentence.

Correa Cruz pleaded guilty on Dec. 17, 2024, to one count of depredation of federal lands and one count of manufacture of, and possession with intent to manufacture and distribute, marijuana.  Correa Cruz admitted to injuring and damaging federal property by willfully participating in an illegal marijuana grow operation on federal public lands and knowingly manufacturing marijuana plants.

According to court documents, Correa Cruz was arrested in July 2022 during a multi-agency search of one of the largest illegal marijuana cultivation operations found on federal land, known as the “Ventana Complex.”  The complex is located in the Ventana Wilderness region of the national forest, a federally protected area that is known as a top “biodiversity hotspot” and home to more threatened and endangered species than any other national forest in California.

The investigation into the Ventana Complex emerged after evidence revealed that the 2020 Dolan Fire, which killed one firefighter and 12 condors, was started by a marijuana grower who ignited the fire at an illegal marijuana cultivation site located in the same region of the Los Padres National Forest.  The investigation revealed that, between 2021 and 2022, the Ventana Complex comprised of at least seven interconnected illegal marijuana sites.

The cultivation site where Correa Cruz was arrested included two plots that had been cleared of most native vegetation to make way for approximately 10,000 marijuana plants.  Law enforcement also discovered a camp area with a tent and 15 sleeping bags, a kitchen area with thousands of pounds of trash and dead animal parts, and significant quantities of hazardous materials and chemicals on site.  An environmental damage assessment found that the illegal operation diverted and used approximately 33,780 gallons of water a day in an area that was experiencing severe drought conditions.

Acting United States Attorney Patrick D. Robbins, Brandon Robinson, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Law Enforcement and Investigations, Pacific Southwest Region, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani made the announcement.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Lee ordered the defendant to pay $35,074 in restitution and sentenced him to three years of supervised release.  The defendant was immediately remanded into custody at sentencing.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne C. Hsieh is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Sara Slattery.  The prosecution is the result of an investigation by USFS and the FBI, with assistance from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.