The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office arrested four people
around noon Thursday after discovering an indoor illegal marijuana
operation of at least 6,400 plants at a former landscaping design
and construction yard near the intersection of Buena Vista Avenue
and No Name Uno.
Gilroy – The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office arrested four people around noon Thursday after discovering an indoor illegal marijuana operation of at least 6,400 plants at a former landscaping design and construction yard near the intersection of Buena Vista Avenue and No Name Uno.
All four suspects were released Thursday on bail of between $10,000 and $20,000 shortly after being arrested.
Sgt. Rick Sung estimated the bust to be worth more than $9 million. He said not all of the plants were fully mature and ready for sale.
“For an indoor grow, I’ll say that is a very rare case,” Sung said about the high value of the operation. An outdoor grow, however, is often much larger and worth much more, he said.
Deputies received a report of a possible indoor marijuana operation Thursday and went to the vacated business site to investigate. When they arrived, deputies were “able to see marijuana plants from the windows,” Sung said.
“Standing out in the street, you could smell (the marijuana),” Sung said.
The site of the indoor operation at 675 Buena Vista Road is approximately the size of a football field. A large storage building lines the east side of the property and several smaller buildings go along the west side. The property’s yard is overgrown with weeds, though a Greenlife sign is visible from the street near No Name Uno.
The larger, now-vacant building still has a Greenlife sign that’s visible from the street, though Greenlife no longer owns or operates from the Gilroy branch. According to a Greenlife employee in San Jose, it’s been owned by the Christiano Trust since Aug. 10.
Suspects Kelly Schaefer, 48, of San Jose and Patrick Britt, 46, of San Jose each posted $20,000 bail Thursday and were charged with possession to sell, conspiracy, illegal cultivation of marijuana and unlawful transportation of illegal substances.
Sheriff’s deputies obtained a search warrant following the bust in Gilroy for a residence that Schaefer and Britt share in San Jose. There, they discovered more marijuana that was ready to sell, though no indoor operation. The suspects were not home when deputies searched the property.
Two more suspects Misty Santos, 43, of San Jose, and Jeffrey Trueblood, 42, of Campbell, were charged with illegal cultivation and conspiracy. Santos was also charged with possession to sell an illegal substance. Both posted $10,000 bail and were released Thursday.
If the District Attorney’s office decides to charge the suspects, Schaefer, Britt and Trueblood will be arraigned Oct. 1 at 9 a.m. Santos’ hearing is scheduled for Sept. 30 at 1:30 p.m. The arraignments are tentative pending the D.A.’s office’s decision.
