By Bay City News
A Mexican national pleaded guilty to charges tied to a large-scale illegal marijuana cultivation site that caused significant environmental damage in the Los Padres National Forest, federal prosecutors announced.
As part of his plea agreement, Jacinto Correa Cruz, 56, admitted to the depredation of federal lands and manufacturing marijuana, the office of U.S. Attorney Ismail J. Ramsey said.
The charges stem from Correa Cruz’s involvement in a grow operation within the Ventana Wilderness, a protected biodiversity area in the forest.
Authorities arrested Correa Cruz in July 2022 during a multi-agency search of the site.
Investigators found two plots cleared of native vegetation with about 10,000 marijuana plants, hazardous pesticides, and an irrigation system diverting 33,780 gallons of water daily amid severe drought conditions, a press release issued on Thursday noted.
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According to officials, cleanup efforts took more than a year and cost over $92,000.
Correa Cruz has been in custody since August 2022 and is facing up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine for each charge. Sentencing is set for March 4, 2025.
