FRESNO, Calif. — A Fresno County felon is facing federal prison after admitting he possessed a loaded handgun with a scratched-off serial number amid a sprawling illegal marijuana grow operation on public forest land. Gary Lee Ortiz, 41, of Auberry, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm, Acting United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert confirmed.
The weapon — a Herbert Schmidt, model E 15, .22 LR caliber revolver — was seized during a June 8, 2015 raid on Ortiz’s property and adjacent parcels in the Sierra National Forest’s Mill Creek area. Agents with the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives uncovered dozens of marijuana plants cultivated across both private and protected land, prompting the eradication of the illegal crop and seizure of four firearms.
Ortiz, a convicted felon barred from possessing any firearms, admitted to handling and controlling the obliterated-revolver found at the site. Court documents show he also agreed to pay restitution to the U.S. Forest Service for environmental damage caused by the grow operation, including soil degradation, water diversion, and destruction of native vegetation.
The probe was a multi-agency effort involving the U.S. Forest Service, ATF, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, and Fresno County Probation Department. The coordinated crackdown highlights the ongoing battle against clandestine grows that exploit federal land and threaten public safety with armed, prohibited persons.
Ortiz is scheduled for sentencing on March 6, 2017, before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. O’Neil. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. While the statutory maximum is clear, the final sentence will hinge on federal guidelines and judicial discretion.
Assistant United States Attorney Karen Escobar is prosecuting the case. Federal authorities stress that illegal firearm possession by felons remains a top enforcement priority, particularly when tied to drug operations on public lands.
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Key Facts
- State: California
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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