** UPDATE 2/6/23 ** LARGE ILLEGAL MARIJUANA GROW CONTROLLED BY CARTEL DISMANTLED IN ALFALFA
On Friday, February 3rd, 2023, the Deschutes County Illicit Marijuana Enforcement Team made an additional arrest in the case of the Alfalfa marijuana grow operated by and affiliated with a foreign Mexican drug cartel. Most laborers found working on the grow site were Mexican nationals and illegally trafficked into the United States to work in the illegal marijuana trade involuntarily. The laborers were found living in primitive wooden structures and dome tents with limited clean water sources and dumping wastewater directly into the soil.
At the scene, Denise Elaine Johnson, of Bend, Oregon was arrested for illegally manufacturing marijuana plants and cannabinoid products. Ms. Johnson has since pled guilty to the charges in the Deschutes County Circuit Court.
Detectives identified several additional people involved with this case as suspects.
Robert Dale Scheeler, age 30, of Houston, Texas, was one of the people identified for allegedly being responsible for facilitating the grow location and managing the operation. It was confirmed Mr. Scheeler fled the United States after the Search Warrant was executed on the Alfalfa marijuana grow. A warrant was issued for his arrest after being indicted by a Deschutes County Grand Jury and later failing to appear in court.
In June of 2022, Mr. Scheeler was detained for this warrant by US Customs and Border Protection Agents when he attempted to re-enter the United States from Mexico through a port of entry in Texas. However, the Harris County Jail refused to house him due to ongoing COVID protocols. Ultimately, he was released into the United States.
DCIME Detectives continued to search for Mr. Scheeler and located him living in a Houston, Texas, RV park.
On February 3rd, 2023, Robert Nicholas Scheeler was arrested by the Harris County (TX) Sheriff's Office Violent Persons Task Force / Criminal Warrants Section for the outstanding arrest warrant. Mr. Scheeler is currently held at the Harris County (TX) Sherrif's Jail pending his extradition to Deschutes County. An initial appearance will be scheduled once he returns to Oregon and is booked into the Deschutes County Jail.
Additional arrests are forthcoming.
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