Mexican national faces court action for marijuana grow in national forest

FRESNO, Calif. — A Mexican national from Michoacán pleaded guilty Monday to aiding with a marijuana cultivation operation in the Sequoia National Forest, following a joint probe by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the U.S. Forest Service, and the Kern County Sheriff’s Office.

Antonio Garcia-Villa (Garcia), 46, pleaded guilty to conspiring to manufacture, distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana and possessing firearms in furtherance of a large-scale cultivation operation.

According to court documents, Garcia was paid to tend and water more than 8,500 marijuana plants near Little Poso Creek in the Sequoia National Forest. To facilitate the cultivation activities, Garcia possessed a loaded rifle and handgun. The marijuana grow caused extensive damage to the land and natural resources. Native trees and plants were cut down and steep hillsides were terraced to plant the marijuana. Pesticides, fertilizer, water lines, trash, clothing and camping equipment were scattered throughout the site. Garcia has agreed to reimburse the U.S. Forest Service for the cleanup costs.

Garcia is scheduled for sentencing on Jan. 19, 2016, before Senior U.S. District Judge Anthony W. Ishii. Garcia faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine for the drug conspiracy and a mandatory minimum consecutive term of five years in prison for the firearm charge. The actual sentence will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory sentencing factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. Garcia also faces deportation to Mexico upon completion of any prison term.

Assistant United States Attorney Karen Escobar is prosecuting the case.