HEMET – On June 5, 2019, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, in conjunction with more than a dozen allied agencies, conducted an operation in the Anza Valley targeting illegal marijuana cultivation. The operation was the result of recent homicides, thefts, robberies, kidnappings, and stealing from utility companies, all associated with illegal grows.
The Hemet Sheriff’s Station investigators spearheaded the effort calling upon approximately 700 law enforcement personnel to assist in serving search warrants at more than 118 illegal marijuana grow locations within the 265 square miles of the Anza Valley.
The success of the search warrants resulted in the confiscation of:
- 140,877 marijuana plants (estimated at $189 million dollars street)
- 3,037 pounds of processed marijuana
- 17 rifles and 10 handguns
- 70 tons of plants disposed
“Numerous crimes can typically be linked to illegal marijuana cultivation. Investigating these sites can be dangerous for law enforcement officers as those operating these grows usually have firearms,” said California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) President Alan Barcelona.
The following individuals were arrested for related crimes:
1) 63-year-old Hien Dinhnguyen from Hemet
Charge 11358 HS Cultivate Marijuana
2) 48-year-old Guoyong Jiang from Rosemead
Charge 182 PC Conspiracy
3) 61-year-old Quynn Hoang from Oakland
Charge 182 PC Conspiracy
4) 44-year-old Dehvi Zheng from Anza
Charge 11358 HS Cultivate Marijuana
5) 64-year-old Tieu Hoang from Oakland
Charge 11358 HS Cultivate Marijuana
6) 66-year-old Fu Chang from Aguanga
Charge 182 PC Conspiracy
7) 31-year-old Zhenfu Lin from Anza
Charge 11358 HS Cultivate Marijuana
8) 33-year-old Felix Hernan from Mexico
Charge 1551 PC Fugitive
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department extended its gratitude to:
- San Diego County Sheriff
- , Orange County Sheriff,
- Los Angeles County Sheriff,
- Kern County Sheriff,
- Riverside County District Attorney’s Office,
- Riverside Police,
- Hemet Police,
- Murrieta Police,
- Cathedral City Police,
Riverside County Gang Task Force,- PACT Team,
- Coachella Valley Narcotic Task Force,
- California Fish and Wildlife
- FBI,
- S. Drug Enforcement Administration,
- Cal Fire,
- American Medical Response,
- Riverside County Animal Services,
- California Water Board,
- Riverside County Code Enforcement,
- and the Riverside Sheriff’s Association
for their assistance and partnership on a successful operation to combat illegal marijuana grows in the County of Riverside. The California Army National Guard provided equipment and vehicles in the transportation and destruction of the marijuana.
