A federal grand jury has indicted three individuals in connection with a large-scale marijuana cultivation and distribution operation. The indictment charges Dineh Benally, 48, his father Donald Benally, 74, and Irving Rea Yui Lin, 73, from California, with multiple offenses related to the illegal operation.
The charges include conspiracy to manufacture and distribute marijuana, manufacturing over 1,000 kilograms of marijuana and more than 1,000 plants, possession with intent to distribute similar quantities, maintaining drug-involved premises, and two counts of discharging pollutants into U.S. waters without a permit.
According to the indictment details:
- The operation involved 25 farms covering about 400 acres in Shiprock.
- Approximately 1,107 cannabis greenhouses were constructed.
- Chinese investors were solicited for funding.
- Chinese workers were recruited for cultivation tasks.
The defendants are also accused of violating the Clean Water Act by discharging pollutants into the San Juan River. They allegedly filled a channel along the river dam and installed a sandbag dam that potentially caused environmental damage.
In November 2020, law enforcement seized around 60,000 pounds of marijuana and approximately 260,000 plants from these farms. On January 23, during raids on two additional farms operated by Dineh Benally in Estancia, New Mexico (including his residence), authorities identified ten Chinese workers and seized about 8,500 pounds of marijuana among other items.
U.S. Attorney Uballez stated: “The Department of Justice will protect the sanctity of the ancestral lands and waters of our Tribal partners from those who would exploit them for profit.”
Raul Bujanda from the FBI Albuquerque Division said: "The FBI remains committed to continue to dismantle criminal organizations operating in New Mexico."
If convicted, each defendant faces a minimum sentence of ten years up to life imprisonment.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez alongside Raul Bujanda from the FBI Albuquerque Field Office and Kim Bahney from the EPA Criminal Investigation Division's Dallas Area Office.
The investigation was conducted by several agencies including the FBI Albuquerque Field Office and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency with assistance from others such as Bureau of Indian Affairs and Navajo Nation Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew McGinley is prosecuting this case.