Two Busts of Indoor Pot Farms Net More Than 1,500 Marijuana Plants

One home was found unoccupied, and the Sheriff's Department is asking for help

At two seperate locations in the city of Eastvale, investigators discovered more than 1,500 marijuana plants inside homes that had been modified solely to produce drugs, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said.

A search warrant was first served at about 3:30 p.m. Friday at a home in the 12000 block of Mississippi Drive (map), which had been wired to steal up to $5,000 per month in electricity to power the pot-growing operation.

Authorities seized 1,266 pot plants, as shown below, at that home, which had been “modified for the sole purpose of cultivating and processing marijuana for sales,” Sheriff’s Sgt. Andrew Elia said in a news release.

No one was arrested at that home, which was unoccupied.

About four miles to the southwest and 2 1/2 hours later, deputies found another large grow operation in the 14400 block of Saline Drive (map), Sgt. Justin Rowan said in a news release.

Two men in their two 20s were detained at the home, where authorities found pot and mushrooms, along with a evidence of a "dangerous Butane-extraction process" used to produce concentrated pot.

Gabriel Roger Minkie, 29, and Jacob Aaron Minkie, 27, both of Eastvale, were booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center on charges of conspiracy, cultivation of marijuana and psilocybin mushrooms and other drug-related charges.

The bust at the Saline Drive home recovered:

  • 278 marijuana plants;
  • 65 pounds of processed marijuana, as shown below;
  • 50 fluid ounces of concentrated cannabis suspended in liquid;
  • 5 ounces of concentrated cannabis;
  • 17 ounces of psilocybin mushrooms;
  • scales, packaging material and;
  • more than $4,000.00 in U.S. currency.

The two raids were part of an ongoing investigation into illegal home pot farms in Eastvale, which is north of Corona. It was not clear if they were related.

Anyone with information about the Mississippi Drive home is urged to call Deputy Patrick Walls at the sheriff's Jurupa Valley station at (951) 955-2600. Tips about the Saline Drive home and the Minkies can be given to Officer Javier Morando at the Jurupa Valley Station at (951) 955-2600.

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