3 men facing charges in connection to marijuana growing operation in San Juan County
SAN JUAN COUNTY, N.M. (KRQE) – There's been a sweeping federal indictment charging three men for an illegal marijuana operation. The indictment said the feds seized more than 8,000 pounds of marijuana, firearms, and 43 grams of meth. Dineh Benally, who once ran for president of the Navajo Nation, is currently in custody. They said Benally hired ten Chinese workers. The feds also charged his father, Donald Benally, and California resident Irving Rea Yui Lin.
They said the operation had 25 farms over roughly 400 acres in the Shiprock area with roughly 1,107 cannabis greenhouses. The three are also accused of violating the Clean Water Act by putting pollutants in the San Juan River, filling a channel along the river's dam, and installing a sandbag dam along the river.
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They are facing multiple charges including conspiracy to manufacture and distribute marijuana, and manufacture of 1,000 kilograms and more of marijuana.
If convicted, they face a minimum of ten years and up to life in prison.
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