Indictment charges man with growing marijuana in several counties
By BREAKING NEWS BLOG
A grand jury in Fresno indicted Martin Rojas-Cuamba, 44, of Escondido, Thursday charging him with conspiring to cultivate, distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana grown in Tulare, Kern, Ventura, San Luis Obispo, and San Diego counties.
Rojas was connected to the seizure of more than 10,000 marijuana plants grown on agricultural lands in Terra Bella and Bakersfield, and public lands in the Sequoia National Forest in Kern County and the Los Padres National Forest in San Luis Obispo and Ventura counties. Law enforcement officers also seized $53,460 in drug proceeds from Rojas' residence in Escondido.
Rojas is next scheduled to appear in federal court in San Diego on Dec. 6, and will be transferred to Fresno for prosecution. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum prison term of 10 years, a maximum prison term of life, and a $10 million fine.
- Office of U.S. Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner, Eastern District of California
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