Sacramento County sheriff's narcotics detectives today arrested five people in connection with an interstate marijuana distribution operation.
Taken into custody were Keni Renta (pictured, top left), 29; Jauwon Wilder (top center), 28; Charles Wilson (top right), 34; Nathan Curry (bottom left) , 35; and Maryann Hunter (bottom right), 25. All were booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail on suspicion of possession of marijuana for sale, cultivation of marijuana and conspiracy to distribute marijuana.
In October 2011, sheriff's detectives began an investigation along with the U.S. Postal Service and the Financial Crimes Task Force of the Internal Revenue Services. The investigation focused on a group of people who appeared to have laundered more than $1 million in cash deposits into fictitious business and personal accounts, according to a Sheriff's Department news release. The deposits were made in states on the East Coast, then withdrawn the following day in Sacramento.
The investigation identified a location where the individuals met each day, and then packaged and shipped parcels weighing 7 to 12 pounds each. These parcels were shipped to states including New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana and Illinois, officials said.
Multiple parcels were seized during the investigation and found to contain high-grade marijuana. Other parcels seized on the East Coast and destined for Sacramento were found to contain cash and money orders, according to the news release.
The Sheriff's Department announced that search warrants were served today at three locations in the Sacramento area, leading to the discovery of two marijuana grows, three weapons, several pounds of processed and packaged marijuana, and approximately $70,000 in cash, as well as the five arrests. Officials said the investigation in continuing, and additional arrests are expected.
Bail is set at $200,000 for Curry and Hunter, and at $1 million for Renta, Wilder and Wilson.
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