Jacinto Correa Cruz, a Mexican national aged 56, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Eumi K. Lee to a five-year federal prison term. His sentence is for participating in a significant illegal marijuana cultivation operation in the Los Padres National Forest. Correa Cruz had previously pleaded guilty on December 17, 2024, to charges of depredation of federal lands and the manufacture of, and possession with intent to manufacture and distribute, marijuana.
Court documents revealed that Correa Cruz was arrested in July 2022 during a multi-agency search operation targeting a large illegal marijuana cultivation known as the "Ventana Complex." This complex was located in the Ventana Wilderness, a section of the national forest renowned for its biodiversity and numerous threatened and endangered species.
The investigation into the Ventana Complex was initiated after the 2020 Dolan Fire, which resulted in the deaths of a firefighter and 12 condors, was linked to a marijuana grower who started the fire. It was discovered that between 2021 and 2022, the Ventana Complex consisted of at least seven interconnected illegal marijuana sites.
At the cultivation site where Correa Cruz was apprehended, authorities found two plots cleared for nearly 10,000 marijuana plants. The site also included a camp area featuring a tent, 15 sleeping bags, a kitchen with substantial amounts of trash and animal remains, and a considerable amount of hazardous materials and chemicals. Additionally, an environmental damage assessment indicated that the illegal operation diverted around 33,780 gallons of water daily in a drought-stricken area.
The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Patrick D. Robbins, Brandon Robinson, Special Agent in Charge with U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations, Pacific Southwest Region, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani.
Alongside the prison sentence, Judge Lee ordered Correa Cruz to pay $35,074 in restitution and imposed three years of supervised release. Correa Cruz was taken into custody immediately following the sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne C. Hsieh is leading the prosecution with the assistance of Sara Slattery. This prosecution follows an investigation by the U.S. Forest Service and the FBI, with help from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.