Four men suspected of operating illegal cannabis grows that were raided by Riverside County sheriff’s deputies in San Jacinto, Hemet and Pomona were out of custody Friday after posting bonds.
Domingo Guarchaj, 28, Francisco Tambriz, 28, Manuel Tambriz, 33, and Alirio David Garcia Vivas, 38, were arrested Thursday on suspicion of illegal cultivation of marijuana. Vivas was additionally arrested for alleged possession of marijuana for sale.
He posted a $100,000 bond and was released from the Byrd Detention Center Friday morning, while the other suspects posted bonds of $2,500 each and were released from the Murrieta jail Thursday night.
According to sheriff’s Sgt. Matthew Posson, deputies from the Marijuana Enforcement Team obtained search warrants following investigations at properties in the 100 block of North Dillon Avenue in San Jacinto, 42000 block of Thornton Avenue in Hemet and 1000 block of West First Street in Pomona.
The warrants were served at the locations without incident, resulting in the men’s arrests and the confiscation of a total 1,436 cannabis plants in various stages of growth, 54 pounds of processed weed, two unregistered firearms and $11,000 in cash, Posson said.
“Items indicative of illicit narcotics sales were located,” the sergeant said.
The Pomona address is in another county, but it was allegedly linked to the suspects and their operations in Riverside County.
Commercial marijuana cultivation requires permits from the municipalities where the grows are planned, or from the county Board of Supervisors, when the operations are designated in unincorporated communities.
The process requires multiple public hearings and high levels of scrutiny.