San Andreas, CA…Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office Marijuana Team summaries for August 23rd and September 9th, 2021. On August 23rd, 2021, the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office Marijuana Enforcement Unit served a search warrant for illegal marijuana cultivation in the 5000 block of Paramae Road in Railroad Flat. Deputies seized 107 growing marijuana plants with an estimated value exceeding $74,000. No suspects were contacted at the site. Evidence was collected and the investigation is ongoing.

On August 25th, 2021, a search warrant was served in the 3000 block of Roden Lane in West Point. The residence had been converted to facilitate indoor marijuana cultivation. Deputies seized 971 growing marijuana plants. No suspects were contacted at the scene. Evidence was collected and the investigation is ongoing.

On September 2nd, 2021, a search warrant was served on a parcel located off Quartz Mountain Road in West Point. Deputies seized 371 growing marijuana plants with an estimated value exceeding $259,000. This site was previously eradicated in April, 2021, in which 612 growing marijuana plants were eradicated. No suspects were contacted at the site. Evidence was collected and the investigation is ongoing.

Additionally on September 2nd, 2021, an unrelated search warrant was served in the 6000 block of Riata Way in Angels Camp. Deputies seized 3,688 growing marijuana plants with an estimated value exceeding $4,794,000. Additionally, two firearms were seized. A portion of the residence had been converted for indoor marijuana cultivation, and a large shop structure on the property had been entirely converted for indoor marijuana cultivation. The shop consisted of two levels and multiple rooms containing marijuana in several stages of growth.

Calaveras County Code Enforcement Officers responded to the site and Red Tagged the structure for violations including unsafe electrical and construction. Three suspects were contacted at the scene and placed under arrest. Xiaoping Liang, age 40 of San Mateo, CA, Mei Chang Chen, age 57 of Angels Camp, and Xiongying Chen, age 56 of Angels Camp, were booked into the Calaveras County Jail on charges of 11358 H&S Illegal Marijuana Cultivation, 11359 H&S Possession of Marijuana for Sale, 11366 H&S Maintaining a Premises for Sales of a Controlled Substance and 182 PC Conspiracy to Commit Crime.

On September 3rd, 2021, a search warrant was served in the 3100 block of Berkesey Lane in Valley Springs. Deputies seized 393 growing marijuana plants and 24 pounds of processed marijuana with an estimated value exceeding $542,000. The residence had been converted to facilitate indoor marijuana cultivation. No suspects were contacted at the scene. Evidence was collected and the investigation is ongoing.

Additionally on September 3rd, 2021, an unrelated search warrant was served in the 2000 block of Andreas Vista Drive in San Andreas. Deputies seized 54 growing marijuana plants with an estimated value exceeding $70,000. This location was previously eradicated in 2017 in which 208 growing marijuana plants and 1,220 pounds of processed marijuana were seized and again in 2018 in which 191 growing marijuana plants were seized. No suspects were contacted at the scene. Evidence was collected and the investigation is ongoing.

The Calaveras Sheriff’s Office encourages anyone with knowledge of illegal marijuana operations to call the Sheriff’s Office Anonymous Marijuana Tip Line at (209) 754-6870.