Riggs Busted: Sequoia Forest Pot Operation Lands Man in Hot Water

FRESNO, Calif. – Russell Lee Riggs, 69, of Weldon, California, has confessed to his role in a large-scale marijuana cultivation operation illegally carved into the heart of Sequoia National Forest. The guilty plea, announced today by U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert, reveals a brazen disregard for both the law and the fragile wilderness he exploited.

Court documents detail how Riggs wasn’t just a passive observer. He actively supplied the operation, hauling in materials to a site nestled in the Fay Creek drainage, a site that housed over 3,000 marijuana plants. But it didn’t stop there. Riggs also allegedly accepted processed marijuana from the growers, profiting directly from the illegal enterprise. This wasn’t a small-time hobby; it was a calculated, destructive business.

The damage extended far beyond the illicit crop. Investigators discovered that springs were illegally dammed and diverted to irrigate the marijuana, starving downstream ecosystems. The site itself was a wasteland of trash, carelessly dumped – including directly into a flowing stream. Fay Creek isn’t just a pretty backdrop; it’s a vital waterway supporting trout, wildflowers, and a diverse range of wildlife, and serves as a primary drinking water source for animals in the area. Riggs and his cohorts treated it like a dumping ground.

The bust wasn’t limited to botanical destruction. Law enforcement officers uncovered a frightening arsenal at the cultivation site and during subsequent searches of Riggs’ and co-defendant Juan Penaloza-Ramirez’s residences. A total of 16 firearms and over 2,000 rounds of ammunition were seized. Penaloza-Ramirez, 46, a citizen of Mexico, previously pleaded guilty and is set to be sentenced on June 19, 2017. The combination of drugs and weapons paints a clear picture of a dangerous, organized operation.

Riggs has agreed to pay $1,719 in restitution to the U.S. Forest Service for the damage inflicted on public land and natural resources. He’s also forfeiting the seized firearms and ammunition – a small price to pay for the devastation caused. Riggs is scheduled for sentencing before U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd on September 11, 2017. Both men face a mandatory minimum of five years in prison, with a potential maximum of 40 years, and a $5 million fine. The final sentence will be determined by the court.

This investigation was a collaborative effort, involving the U.S. Forest Service, DEA, Bureau of Land Management, ICE’s HSI, ATF, the Southern Tri-County HIDTA task force, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California Department of Justice’s CAMP, and the Kern County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Karen Escobar is leading the prosecution. This case serves as a stark reminder that exploiting public lands for criminal gain will not be tolerated.