Mexican National Sentenced For Toxic Marijuana Grow In Stanislaus National Forest

TUOLUMNE COUNTY (CBS13) — A Mexican nationalist was sentenced to 4.5 years down bars for operating a toxic marijuana cultivation successful the Stanislaus National Forest, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said connected Thursday.

Eleno Fernandez-Garcia, 37, of Michoacan, was antecedently convicted of conspiring to manufacture, administer and person with intent to administer marijuana and was ordered to wage $45,688 successful restitution to the U.S. Forest Service for harm the cognition and toxic chemicals caused to the land.

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A pesticide, 2 rodenticides, 837 pounds of soluble fertilizer, 45 gallons of liquid fertilizer and a dormant raccoon were recovered astatine the turn site, officials said. Additionally, much than 2,000 pounds of trash and irrigation tubing were found.

According to Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert, the turn tract was successful a grazing licence country wherever cows roamed freely and were capable to entree the plants and chemicals. The country besides sits upstream from galore taxon listed arsenic federally threatened un the Endangered Species Act—including the Central Valley steelhead, chinook salmon and yellow-legged frog.

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The cognition was located successful the Basin Creek drainage of the wood successful Tuolumne County, officials said. Authorities located 9,654 marijuana plants.

Fernandez-Garcia was located astatine the site, which is adjacent recreational activities and Sugar Pine Springs—a earthy outpouring utilized by bottled h2o companies. He was recovered with pruning shears, 2 cellphones and helium was covered successful marijuana debris.

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The U.S. Attorney’s Office said 3 different radical fled from the area.

CBS13 Staff