CALIFORNIA — On May 30, 2019, the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office and Tulare Police Department completed a seven-month investigation into an organization involved in illegal marijuana grows. The investigation began on October 23, 2018, after detectives responded to a shooting in the area of Ave 232 and Road 180 in Lindsay where Daniel Orta was found murdered. During the initial investigation, detectives discovered a large illegal marijuana operation on the property. Detectives recovered a large amount of marijuana in different stages of cultivation and an additional 200 lbs of marijuana.
Over the next seven months, TCSO Detectives, the Marijuana Investigation Team (M.I.T.) and Detectives with the Tulare Police Department, identified 53-year-old Sigi Corral as a suspect who led an organization that cultivated several thousand marijuana plants throughout the Tulare area.
On May 30, 2018, nearly 50 Detectives from the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office, Tulare Police Department and Agents with the Department of Fish and Wildlife, served 12 search warrants throughout the Tulare area in connection to this organization. During the execution of the warrants, detectives arrested Corral, 37-year-old Jesus Delgado, 46-year-old Tomas Melendez, 25-year-old Omar Melendez and 25-year-old Miguel Villa, all of Tulare. All suspect were later booked on numerous drug offenses. During the executions of the warrants, detectives found 13 guns, $38,000 in cash, 2,827 marijuana plants and 2,000 pounds of processed marijuana.
