KSJD News Headlines
- Two men who allegedly grew marijuana illegally along a remote section of the Dolores River in Colorado have been indicted by a federal grand jury.
Two men who allegedly grew marijuana illegally along a remote section of the Dolores River in Colorado have been indicted by a federal grand jury. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Denver announced Tuesday that 33-year-old Luis Adolfo Garcia of Parachute and 23-year-old Luis Rios-Cortez of Mexico were ordered held without bond. The U.S. Attorney’s Office says 1,720 pounds of dried marijuana was recovered from a home near Cedaredge November 13th. The raid followed months of investigation after BLM rangers saw suspicious activity along the Dolores River between Gateway and Naturita in spring of this year.
In September, 10 other men were arrested in connection with two illegal grow sites on public lands along the Dolores near Highway 141. Further investigation by the DEA, BLM, Delta County Sheriff and Seventh Judicial Drug Task Force led them to Garcia and Rios-Cortez, who are believed to have been involved in those grow operations. According to the complaint, Garcia told investigators the enormous quantity of pot seized came from just six plants he was growing at home. Garcia and Rios-Cortes each face two felony counts that carry penalties of five to 40 years in prison and up to a $5 million fine. Rios-Cortes also faces one count of being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm.