Kern County Authorities Shut Down Seven Illegal Dispensaries; 16 Arrested
Above: Photo taken during one of the searches
All photos courtesy of KCSO
Originally published 9-7-23 via Facebook
by the Kern County Sheriff’s Office:
“On September 6, 2023, at approximately 7:45 p.m., the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, Kern County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force (KC-HIDTA), along with Investigators from the Kern County District Attorney’s Office, executed search warrants on seven (7) illegal marijuana dispensaries operating in the community of Rosamond. Wardens from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife/Cannabis Enforcement Program (CEP), detectives from California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) and officers from the Kern County Probation Department also assisted in the execution of the search warrants and arrests of numerous subjects found to be involved in operating the illegal marijuana dispensaries.
This investigation resulted in the closure of all seven (7) marijuana dispensaries that were found to be in violation of County and State Health and Safety Code ordinances/ laws. Investigators from the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) assisted detectives in the overall operation and found the below marijuana dispensaries to be violation for the illicit sales of marijuana and various cannabis products.
- Lights Out Wellness- 1739 Poplar Street
- Wicked Weed – 2763 Sierra Hwy
- The Location – 2613 Diamond Street
- Mr. 5 Gramz – 2665 Diamond Street
- AV Wellness – 2689 Sierra Hwy
- Plum Tree Collective -2873 Sierra Hwy
- CBD Plus – 2753 Diamond
Members of Kern County Code Compliance responded and during their investigation found numerous building code violations at each of the above seven (7) locations. Based on the violations, the businesses were deemed unsafe for occupancy and posted by Kern County Code Compliance.
The following subjects were arrested for the listed charges and booked into the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, Central Receiving Facility or Mojave jail.
Gregory Black (age 54) from Rosamond, arrested for possession of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance while being armed with a loaded handgun and for several outstanding warrants.
Jennifer Lara (age 36) from Mojave, arrested for maintaining a place for drug sales, possession of marijuana for sales and for conspiracy to commit a crime.
Christopher Tusnstall (age 27) from Lancaster, arrested for maintaining a place for drug sales, possession of marijuana for sales and for conspiracy to commit a crime.
Sheri Castellanos (age 62) from Bakersfield, arrested for maintaining a place for drug sales, possession of marijuana for sales and for conspiracy to commit a crime.
Philip Silva, (age 39) from Lancaster, arrested for maintaining a place for drug sales, possession of marijuana for sales and for conspiracy to commit a crime.
Tyler Pedigo, (age 33) from Rosamond, arrested for maintaining a place for drug sales, possession of marijuana for sales and for conspiracy to commit a crime.
Christopher Clark, (age 38) from Sylmar, arrested for maintaining a place for drug sales, possession of marijuana for sales and for conspiracy to commit a crime.
Guadalupe Vieyra, (age 32) from Little Rock, arrested for maintaining a place for drug sales, possession of marijuana for sales and for conspiracy to commit a crime.
Christopher Sosa, (age 39) from Lancaster, arrested for maintaining a place for drug sales, possession of marijuana for sales, conspiracy to commit a crime and for having an outstanding warrant.
Iris Castro, (age 30) from Lancaster, arrested for maintaining a place for drug sales, possession of marijuana for sales and for conspiracy to commit a crime.
Jennifer Castro, (age 26) from Lancaster, arrested for maintaining a place for drug sales, possession of marijuana for sales and for conspiracy to commit a crime.
Levan Kekelia, (age 47) from Mojave, arrested for maintaining a place for drug sales, possession of marijuana for sales and for conspiracy to commit a crime.
Catana Berthiaume, (age 31) from Lancaster, arrested for maintaining a place for drug sales, possession of marijuana for sales and for conspiracy to commit a crime.
Michael Epps, (age 28) from Mojave, arrested for maintaining a place for drug sales, possession of marijuana for sales and for conspiracy to commit a crime.
Marlon Garnett, (age 26) from Mojave, arrested for maintaining a place for drug sales, possession of marijuana for sales and for conspiracy to commit a crime.
Munster Maayah, (age 25) from Rosamond, arrested for maintaining a place for drug sales, possession of a controlled substance and for possession of a controlled substance while being armed with a loaded handgun.
Jacob Dewater, (age 36) from Lancaster, arrested for maintaining a place for drug sales, possession of marijuana for sales and for conspiracy to commit a crime.”
Additional photos
