Location: 300 Block of Road 152, Delano/200 Block of Road 152, Delano

Incident Date: 06/12/2015

Incident Time: 0710

Case Number: 15-60657

Victim: State of California

Posted by: Media Relations

Suspect #1 Jaime Gutierrez (58Yrs)

Charges: 11358 H&S, 11359 H&S

Suspect #2 Santiago Soto (65 Yrs)

Charges: 11358 H&S, 11359 H&S

Suspect #3 David Soto (38 Yrs)

Charges: Outstanding Felony Warrant (166.4 PC, 11377 PC)

Suspect #4 Jose Alberto Sanchez (56 Yrs)

Charges: 11358 H&S, 11359 H&S

Suspect #5 Edilberto Magana (32 Yrs)

Charges: 11358 H&S

Suspect #6 Jose Herrera Izazga (29 Yrs)

Charges: 11358 H&S

On the above listed date and time, detectives with the Sheriff’s Tactical Enforcement Personnel (STEP Unit) and Narcotics Task Force served three search warrants on three different properties in Delft Colony located in the Delano area of Tulare County.  The warrants were a result of a three week investigation into the illegal cultivation of marijuana on these properties. The above listed suspects were contacted during the service of the warrants and were found to be illegally cultivating marijuana under the guise of California’s Medical Marijuana Laws.   Detectives also learned several of the suspects’ intended the marijuana for sale. At the conclusion of the search warrant operation, 3015 marijuana plants were eradicated and over 30 pounds of processed marijuana was seized.  

If these marijuana plants would have been allowed to mature and yielded at minimum one pound of processed marijuana, the processed marijuana would have commanded a street value of $3,015,000. 

All suspects were taken into custody on their respective charges without incident.

These cases are currently under investigation by the Sheriff’s Tactical Enforcement Personnel (STEP Unit).  Anonymous information regarding these cases can be provided at 1-800-808-0488 or TCSO@tipnow.com, by text or voicemail at 559-725-4194.

Case Status:  Active