Rail Road Flat, CA…On 9-20-17 at about 9:00am, members of the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office Marijuana Enforcement Team served a search warrant at a location in the 400 block of Ridge Road, Railroad Flat. Investigators had identified several hundred marijuana plants growing at this location. The property was not registered as a commercial medical cannabis cultivation site through the Calaveras County Planning Department.

Four subjects were arrested for illegal cultivation of marijuana – 11358(c) H&S and criminal conspiracy – 182 PC. All of these subjects are from Sacramento. Somporn Vannasing (age 51), Joshua Arduini (age 24), Leon Keo (age 25), and Thongdee Phuangtan (age 20). Phuangtan was also charged with 29800(a)PC – felon in possession of a firearm and 30305(a)(1)PC – felon in possession of ammunition. A total of four firearms, miscellaneous ammunition, and a set of body armor were seized during this search warrant service.

503 marijuana plants were eradicated as well as approx. 95 pounds of processed marijuana (leaves and stems)