TULARE, CA (KMJ) – An investigation into a 2018 murder leads detectives to an illegal drug ring in Tulare.
On May 30, 2019, Tulare County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested five men while investigating the murder of Daniel Orta.
Their investigation first began on October 23, 2018, when deputies responded to a shooting in the area of Avenue 232 and Road 180 in Lindsay.
They found Orta’s body, and discovered a large illegal marijuana operation on the property.
Detectives recovered marijuana in different stages of cultivation and an additional 200 lbs of marijuana.
Over the next seven months, detectives with the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office and Tulare Police Department and the Marijuana Investigation Team identified 53-year-old Sigi Corral as a suspect who led an organization that cultivated several thousand marijuana plants throughout the Tulare area.
Nearly 50 detectives and agents with the Department of Fish and Wildlife, served 12 search warrants throughout Tulare on May 30, 2019.
Detectives arrested Corral, 37-year-old Jesus Delgado, 46-year-old Tomas Melendez, 25-year-old Omar Melendez and 25-year-old Miguel Villa, all of Tulare.
All were later booked on numerous drug offenses.
Detectives found 13 guns, $38,000 in cash, 2,827 marijuana plants and 2,000 pounds of processed marijuana.
Anyone with information related to the case or the murder of Daniel Orta is encouraged to call the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office at (559) 733-6218. Or anonymous information can be reported via Tipnow email: [email protected] text or voicemail at 559-725-4194 or download the Tipnow app for Android or Apple phones.
Click to listen to the report by KMJ’s Liz Kern:
