Full Notification

DATE/TIME: January 15, 2019, at approximately 4:30 p.m.

INCIDENT: Indoor Marijuana Grow

LOCATION: Victorville

SUSPECTS: Jian Cai Zhao, 32-year-old male resident of Victorville
Jia Xin Wu, 30-year-old female resident of Victorville
Fu He Tan, 39-year-old male resident of Rosemead
Zhong Hua Zhang, 47-year-old male resident of Rosemead

SUMMARY:
On Tuesday, January 15th, beginning at approximately 4:30 p.m., investigators from the Sheriff's Gangs/Narcotics Division - Marijuana Enforcement Team (MET), in cooperation with deputies from the Victorville Station, served a search warrant at a residence in Victorville. The location had an indoor marijuana grow operation that used advanced lighting, air conditioning, fans, exhaust blowers and air filtering systems to control the climate inside the residence, as well as the odor of marijuana coming from it. Investigators seized 2,000 marijuana plants and 39 pounds of marijuana bud, which was being trimmed by the suspects when the warrant was served.

Investigators discovered electricity at the location was being stolen. Personnel from Southern California Edison (SCE) assisted in the electrical theft investigation. Suspects who grow marijuana illicitly will commonly bypass the electrical meter installed by the electrical company. This is done due to the high amount and cost of electricity needed to operate the marijuana growing equipment.

The extreme measures used to illegally grow marijuana endangers the public living nearby. An electrical short caused by the unpermitted electrical wiring most likely would have resulted in an explosion or fire in the residential community, causing possible injuries. The electrical power to the residence was disconnected so the faulty wiring and eletrical bypass will not create a hazard for the public. The loss from the theft of electricity at the location will be several thousands of dollars.

Victorville has an ordinance prohibiting Commercial Cannabis Activity, which includes growing more than six marijuana plants at a residence. Additionally, the suspects did not obtain a business license from the city of Victorville, nor did they have a license from the State of California to cultivate cannabis. Personnel from the Victorville Code Enforcement Division responded to begin their investigations. The electrical power was disconnected by SCE and the residences were “red tagged” as unsafe to occupy.

The suspects were all booked at the High Desert Detention Center for PC 498- Utility Theft, and HS 113589(c)- Cultivation of Cannabis, over six plants.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is urged to contact the Sheriff’s Gangs/Narcotics Division at (909)387-8400 or [email protected]. Callers wishing to remain anonymous are urged to call the We-tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or you may leave information on the We-Tip Hotline at www.wetip.com.


Refer: Sheriff's Public Affairs
Phone No. (909)387-3700
Case No. DR #6519000015


JOHN McMAHON, Sheriff-Coroner
San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department