Man Sentenced to Five Years for Major Illegal Cannabis Operation in Los Padres National Forest

Jacinto Correa Cruz, a 56-year-old Mexican national, was sentenced to five years in federal prison for his role in a large-scale illegal cannabis grow operation in the Ventana Complex of the Los Padres National Forest, a federally protected biodiversity hotspot in California. Correa Cruz pleaded guilty to depredation of federal lands and the manufacture and possession with intent to distribute marijuana, after authorities discovered his cultivation site with approximately 10,000 plants, significant environmental damage, and extensive use of hazardous chemicals. The operation diverted nearly 33,780 gallons of water per day in a drought-stricken area and left behind thousands of pounds of trash and animal remains. The Ventana Complex investigation began after the 2020 Dolan Fire, which was started by another illegal cannabis grower and resulted in the deaths of a firefighter and 12 endangered California condors. In addition to his prison term, Correa Cruz was ordered to pay over $35,000 in restitution and will be on supervised release for three years. Authorities described the case as one of the largest illegal marijuana cultivation operations ever found on federal land, with restoration efforts costing tens of thousands of dollars per site.