Six Arrested in Los Angeles Marijuana Dispensary Raid

Six people were arrested for conspiracy to sell cocaine and marijuana after a dispensary raid in the Devonshire area of Los Angeles turned up drugs and weapons on Wednesday, according to authorities.

From the LAPD Press Release:

The LAPD Devonshire Narcotics Enforcement Detail set up to serve a search warrant at the White Oak Healing Center, a so-called medical marijuana dispensary. This was the location of an attempted murder investigation late last year wherein the owner’s son, Elias George, was shot multiple times in what had all the appearances of an organized crime style hit. The resulting attempt murder investigation by LAPD West Valley Area Homicide led to information that the store owner, Raymond George, was involved in the interstate transportation and sales of marijuana and cocaine to the Midwest.

A High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Team (Joint Federal and State Narcotics Task Force) in Ohio in coordination with LAPD Devonshire Narcotics Enforcement Detail investigated Mr. George and his associates. Over the next few months investigating officers learned Mr. George maintained residences in Los Angeles and the Cleveland, Ohio area. He ran the White Oak Healing Center as a retail storefront for the cultivation and sale of marijuana and as a location to facilitate the wholesale sale and distribution of cocaine. Devonshire Narcotics Enforcement Detail Detectives conducted their side of the investigation on the White Oak Healing Center including undercover purchases of marijuana determining it was being operated in violation of state law. They obtained a search warrant for the location and Mr. George.

While set up and staged to serve the warrant Devonshire, West Valley and Ohio HIDTA Officers received last minute information that Mr. George was inside the location armed with an AK 47 assault rifle, a .380 auto and his pet Pit Bull. Officers were aware the location was fortified with steel security doors front and rear, numerous security cameras and other interior fortifications. Further, it was located in a strip mall of other legitimate businesses and directly across the street from Pinecrest Elementary School. It had opaque windows with three large green crosses adorning its storefront location.

LAPD SWAT was notified of the updated information and took over tactical service of the warrant. Devonshire and West Valley Narcotics Enforcement Detail officers maintained surveillance of the location. While SWAT officers were preparing to serve the warrant Mr. George and several of his associates arrived at the location and negotiated the sale and delivery of six kilos of cocaine. Also, several marijuana sales were completed to various customers. Ultimately, the five suspects involved in the cocaine deal were detained leaving the location prior to SWAT’s arrival. Once SWAT officers arrived they surrounded the location and ordered Mr. George to exit. He did so and was taken into custody without incident. SWAT entered and determined there were no other occupants except Mr. George’s docile Pit Bull.

Investigating officers discovered a sophisticated hydroponic marijuana growing operation with approximately 300 plants, a storefront marijuana sales office replete with different strains of marijuana buds, hashish, marijuana edibles and a price board listing the required “donation” amount for each item. Officers also recovered a plastic pill bottle containing over 120 oxycodone pills in the sales office, the loaded AK 47, two loaded pistols as well as $6,658.00 in cash.

A total of nine kilos of cocaine were recovered from one of the suspect’s vehicles that had left the location prior to warrant service. This vehicle and two others including, one belonging to Mr. George with Ohio license plates on it, were seized because they had all been modified with secret storage compartments for transporting narcotics.

Six suspects were arrested for conspiracy to sell cocaine and marijuana.

Raymond George, 60 years old
Halz Carrera, 51 years old a resident of Los Angeles, CA
Reginald Beijer, 59 years old a resident of Pasadena, CA
Francisco Franco, 41 years old a resident of Riverside, CA
Francisco Vallejo, 30 years old a resident of Tijuana, Mexico
Alfredo Gonzalez 51 years old a resident of Pasadena, CA

Their bail was set at 1.5 million dollars each.

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