News Release [print friendly page]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 3, 2006

Search Warrants Served at San Francisco Marijuana Distribution Center
Law Enforcement Seizes Sophisticated Indoor Marijuana Grows, Thousands of Marijuana Plants, High Value Vehicle, US Currency and Bank Accounts

SAN FRANCISCO – Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) Special Agent in Charge Javier F. Peña and United States Attorney Kevin V. Ryan, announced today the service of eight federal search warrants in San Francisco and Oakland, to include New Remedies Cooperative LLC, (formerly known as Compassionate Caregivers) and Potent Employment Solutions. Agents also arrested 15 individuals in connection with the investigation, including alleged operator Sparky Rose, 36, of San Francisco. As a result of today’s searches agents seized approximately 12,743 marijuana plants, computers, 2 vehicles, including a Porsche Carrera convertible, and a total of $125,000 in U.S. Currency and three bank accounts belonging to Rose, New Remedies Cooperative and Potent Employment Solutions. The DEA San Francisco Office began this investigation in early 2006.

“Federal drug laws prohibit the cultivation and sale of marijuana. Anyone who breaks these laws to run a lucrative drug trade, buy fancy cars, boost their bank accounts, and exploit vulnerable citizens is not compassionate, they’re criminal,” stated DEA Special Agent in Charge Javier F. Peña. “Make no mistake – these defendants were in the business of dealing drugs, and DEA is in the business of arresting drug dealers and removing them from our communities, just as we did today and will continue to do to uphold our responsibility to the American people.”

“We will continue in our commitment to uphold federal drug laws, including those that involve the distribution of marijuana,” stated United States Attorney Kevin V. Ryan. “I thank all of our law enforcement partners for their collaboration in this investigation.”

The following individuals were arrested today on probable cause for violations related to the distribution of marijuana:

• Sparky Rose, 36, of San Francisco
• Ben Blair, 31, of San Pablo
• James Daley, 56, of San Francisco
• Sean Anderson, 22, of San Francisco
• Kevin Ellis, 28, of Pinole
• Irene Matsuoka, 27, of Crockett
• Jason Matthewson, 29, of Pinole
• Alfaro Munoz-Bebullida, 33, of Richmond
• Steven Navarro, 35, of Richmond
• Johnny Seto, 32, of Alameda
• Mark Miller, 53, of Alameda
• Tracy Smith, 32, of Alameda
• Mistalee Chiame Wang, 25, of San Leandro
• Amber Froiness, 26, of Berkeley
• Jaime Perreira, 26, of San Leandro

All defendants will make their initial appearance in federal court on October 4, 2006.

Today’s enforcement operation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office and the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office.

This case is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of California, in San Francisco. The charges are only allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The mission of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is to enforce the controlled substances laws and regulations of the United States and bring to the criminal and civil justice system of the United States, or any other competent jurisdiction, those organizations and principal members of organizations, involved in the growing, manufacture, or distribution of controlled substances appearing in or destined for illicit traffic in the United States; and to recommend and support non-enforcement programs aimed at reducing the availability of illicit controlled substances on the domestic and international markets.