Two men from Mexico are accused of destroying forest land in the Sequoia National Forest to illegally grow marijuana.
44 year-old Macedonio Madrigal-Herrera and 49 year-old Ezequiel Armas-Ortiz were caught at the Brush Creek Drainage on July 30th.
Agents removed over 2,700 marijuana plants and found toxic chemicals, fertilizer, and trash at the site.
Trees that were planted after the 2002 McNally Fire, had been cut down to make room for the pot, and water was diverted from a nearby stream that supports trout.
This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the California National Guard, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Tulare County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant United States Attorney Karen Escobar is prosecuting the case.are among the team involved in the investigation.
Armas and Madrigal, both of Mexico, were previously ordered detained as a flight risk and danger to the community.
They are facing drug charges and destruction of natural resources and will be arraigned, August 12th in Fresno.
The drug convictions could land them up to 20 years behind bars and fines over a million dollars, the environmental crime -10 years in prison, a $250-thousand dollar fine, and restitution.
