DTF Arrests Two in Table Bluff Cannabis Farm Raid; Charges Include Human Trafficking
The Humboldt County Drug Task Force carried out a raid on a cannabis property located on Table Bluff near Loleta on Thursday, January 19. This operation targeted a property that is believed to have been operating with, or at least previously held, a cannabis cultivation permit. The reported owner of the farm has been charged with several serious crimes including Human Trafficking and being involved with a street gang as well as the manufacture, distribution, or transportation of assault weapons.
The raid led to the arrest of two individuals: Uonan “John” Uonan, believed by neighbors to be the owner of the farm, and Nicholas Machado who acted as a manager there according to a neighbor. Machado as well as Uonan are now facing serious charges.
Uonan, the reported farm owner, has been charged with several offenses, including:
- PC30600(a): Manufacture, distribution, or transportation of assault weapons.
- PC29180(G): Failing to apply for a unique serial number for a firearm.
- PC30605(A): Possession of an assault weapon.
- HS11366.5(a): Management of a location for the manufacture or distribution of controlled substances.
- PC186.10(a): Money laundering.
- PC182(a)(1): Conspiracy to commit a crime.
- HS11359(a)(3): Possession of cannabis for sale.
- PC487(a): Grand theft.
- PC236.1(b): Human trafficking for forced labor or services
- PC186.22(a): Participation in a criminal street gang.
Machado is facing charges including:
- PC33215: Possession of a short-barreled rifle or shotgun.
- PC182(a)(1): Conspiracy to commit a crime.
- HS11359(a): Possession of cannabis for sale.
Uonan is listed as the owner of Humboldt Emerald Triangle, LLC which has active cannabis permits for distribution and cultivation.
Uonan posted this video on LinkedIn showing a greenhouse of Humboldt Emerald Triangle, LLC.
The inclusion of a human trafficking charge in the list of allegations brings up the cannabis industry’s need for workers and past allegations of growers using human trafficking to get cheap or even free labor. The county’s number of remote areas, which provide ideal conditions for cannabis farms, also contribute to a lack of oversight, making it a potential hotspot for exploitative practices such as forced labor.
In a June 2022 interview with Katrina Sims, Awareness Director at Empower, Protect, Invest, by Redheaded Blackbelt reporter Ryan Hudson, Sims explained, that in the majority of the time, human trafficking doesn’t happen abruptly by strangers. She said, “It’s a grooming process,” and reiterated that abuse is something that can build up over time and often happens slowly.
Please remember, Uonan and Machado have not been found guilty in a court of law and should be considered innocent unless found otherwise.
A hotline phone number is available for people in risky situations who may be experiencing human trafficking issues. The number to call if someone finds themselves needing support or relief is the local Support Hotline 707-599-1415
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Gosh darn that fiendish Marijuana!
It probably takes free labor to make a buck, these days…
Yes exactly you either work your ass off or you take advantage of migrants. Why do you think the corporate ag model is working? they are following corporate ag practices. You want cheap fruit or carrots you pay someone $4 a day to pick them. We need unionization of farm labor in cannabis and we need regulations that foster ethical farms.
If you want to make it impossible to farm cannabis by over-taxation and egregious permit costs. You encouraged this situation forcing people to either work themselves into burn out or use slave labor to succeed. I’m okay with being sore and poor if my soul is right
Hey- We Are Farmers! Remember that idiot march through Arcata? It’s been a ridiculous comedy of fools and morons to get us here today…. Step into the light- so we can shoot you down lol
At best (and this is far from the best) the same percentage of human bastards willing to take advantage for their own gain exist in every endeavor. Doing crap illegally creates the perfect environment for extortion to thrive. Existed long before cannabis farmers paid a dime of taxes or fees. Human trafficking was not created by taxation. It is only exposed by it. Be real.
$ 4.00 a day ? you gotta source for that figure? what ever happened to cesar chavez’s union ?
*$6/ day https://www.vibe.com/features/viva/boycottdriscolls-berry-pickers-say-they-are-paid-6-a-day-442708/
2016 article, re; baja, mexico
https://www.business-humanrights.org/en/latest-news/boycott-driscolls-action-in-watsonville-with-photos-video/
It’s ongoing the first time I read about it was in Oregon. I mean are you really questioning that it’s happening?
just citing what you posted as a fact
To be clear Vote no on A because it has zero value aside from keeping some Ranchers happy …but it has opened the door to talk about why corporate Ag, consolidation, and forcing out small farmers was a bad idea.
Umm…actually stopping expansion of existing farms is the best reason to vote FOR measure A. The potential to sell their farms to corporate entities with the ability to expand is their exit strategy. The existing large farms in Humboldt do not care about anybody but themselves. They have demonstrated by not paying the taxes they said they would, by selling on the black market like they ensured they would not and by spending hugely on the No On Measure A campaign while they sat by idly and watched all their neighbors get abated. They have zero goodwill and are not to be trusted. Not at all.
We have had a stick-with-no-carrot approach to regulation, and it has not worked. Agriculture is the one industry that can not only be transitioned to carbon neutral but carbon sequestering. We want to capitalize on the opportunity to have not only a green economy but one that regenerates the earth. Instead of further restrictions we must provide funding and education to transition from degrading practices. It’s a choice to work together or fight and it’s just wasting time and resources
If you don’t want people to leave their farms stop making it so difficult to succeed
Biodynamic Farming has been around for a long long time thanks to Rudolf Steiner. Even before the current crop of Political Scientists were screaming about man caused global cooling in the 1970$, global warming in the 80s and 90s, and climate change now. They figure most Americans are to stupid to pick up on their little Ring Grabber game they are playing to rule us all like Sauron. So they substitute words when one theory fails to properly scare the public into submission. The more things change, the more they stay the same. The jokers just change clown suits and still try to convince Americans life is a square they built when it is actually a circle every living thing has had a part in building. That goes for farming especially.
My neighbors have had lax inspections that would not stand scrutiny in any other industry. That’s more “carrot” than I can stand.
I’ve grieved the harm the county caused with their handling of the passing of Prop 64. I’ve been incredibly critical of abatements and putative permitting fees and I’ve paid for speaking up. But I still see a massive opportunity to get away from harmful agribusiness if we choose to. We have two colleges, decades of knowledge from oldie land stewards, and a relatively young median age of producers. We need to work together to support the communities and a green economy. Measure A has way too many people whose ideal is the extinction of cannabis producers. I can’t get behind it ..but I agree we need caps and we need to elect officials who are reasonable and not greedy
in the beginning of 64, conscientious farmers could have joined with concerned citizens to craft ordinances that wouldn’t cause ever expansion of plastic greenhouses and the rest of mega-ag. It was HUMMAP. Measure A is a wake up call – however it comes down – for real farmers who care about their land to demand the Supes rescind the bad regs and keep the small farmer viable. The Supes did it to all of us, grower and complainer alike, in their pursuit of having another revenue source like old growth timber. Dream On!
THe potential to sell their farm to corporate entries is their exit strategy. What are you smoking.
Homesteads have plummeted in prices over the past six years.
If Measure A passes my farm goes up in value based on limited supply.
I already get inspections yearly.
I just won’t be able to upgrade my sustainability. Everything will have to stay as is because you are not allowed to change anything on your permit.
So regardless of an innovation or new ways to be sustainable because we will all be stuck with what we have today.
Your entire argument is based on assumptions. Selling out. Big farms double dipping. Paying for no on A, while watching friends get abated.
Sounds like you are blaming every else but. Yourself for not going legal.
You still have a chance but not if A passes then for sure you are on the outside.
Humboldt is internationally known. You have a story and someone will pay for it legally when the time comes but you have to be legal.
Farce is absolutely spot on….
This bust is right next door to my tree farm. This place has had two illegal grows and four permitted grows. NONE of the permitted grows has ever been actually compliant with their permit requirements. This is the second bust there and the second instance of illegal weapons.
Since Cannabis cultivation began there, I have been confronted by a pair of aggressive Pit Bulls in my field and packed my 12 gauge shotgun to work for a while, had my wide-open small greenhouse cover destroyed by someone who was too strange to look in the open window to see my tomatoes and basil and put up with skunky odors and loud music.
My complaints to the Planning Dept. and to two Supervisors have not been sufficient to force the growers into compliance. Which is precisely why I have worked for and support Measure A.
So you might understand my unhappiness with living next to an attractive nuisance which needs to haver armed guards at night and poses an ongoing threat to my peace and security.
Measure a isn’t going to stop that farm
This leads me to believe John Ford’s “Pay to Play” requirements favored many people with money and no ethics or concern for their community. Remember when planners were taking bribes? I do understand your position. I hope you try to understand mine. I know many small producers did not get an easy pass. The county wanted to sink us. I was inspected I think five times in my first year of operation. I made sure I followed the regulations to a T and still they would change the rules once I was compliant so they could charge me new fees. It was death by a thousand cuts for small farmers who entered the process in 2016. We made it through like most regular people who start a farm and worked two regular jobs on top of farming to pay the county. We’ve gone through hell already. When I’ve talked to other producers with large scale farms often they’ve told me they have never even gotten one inspection…so I believe you but I still don’t think Measure A will be helpful for the overall well-being of our community. Your essentially stop anyone else from being able to get legal. People will still grow illegally and then there will be no oversight of water use or pesticides. The measure was written by people who didn’t educate themselves on current restrictions. What you want instead is to pressure the regulators to actually enforce the rules and that sir would take a change in political leadership. Because right now we have to supervisors who have completely manipulated the market.
Nicholas Siaosi is an undocumented immigrant with anLong Beach, California street gang affiliation. Eureka PD knows this. But they will take no action to report him because California is an amnesty state…
mass migration always benefits the bottom line of skeeming capitalist grifters.
Migration the new slave system moving humans like labor herds
Not new.
And everyone said the convoy was the movie being made.
10-4 Rubber Ducky
Pot cops 2?
Looks like the old orchid greenhouses out there that were busted a number of years back.
Who could have guessed that posting pictures of your scene on social media could ever be a bad idea? Every little kid is doing it…
What a P.O.S.This is the unintended consequence of over-taxation. You either choose to do all of the labor yourself and still not get everything done, or you hire
Undocumented migrants and fuck them over. (Which happens in the traditional market a lot more than the legal. If you can’t pay well, do it yourself, lazy asshole.)
The county decided to push people into the largest farms they could take on to generate the most sqft taxes that they could. They killed mom-and-pop by not allowing small cultivators to enter the market, applying punitive fees and regulations to anyone besides their friends, or fining or abating them. Then they open the welcome mat to corp ag with zero ethics.
Now what we are left with are people hanging on who are overworked and underpaid and jackasses who think that building wealth by taking advantage of others is okay. Well, you wanted corporate agriculture, you got it. DRISCOL pays $4 for a 12-hour shift to pick berries.
We need reform, we need support, and we need unionization of farm workers. This makes me so mad and sad. Im disgusted.
Anybody who thinks that consolidation of cannabis farms is okay doesn’t understand what a stable farming economy looks like. You only need enough not excessive $. Not when it means all of your neighbors have to go to food bank lines while you buy Luis Vuitton
Thank you! I can see that while you may be a permit pansy that you and I can agree on basic morality. Unfortunately we are both being ground underfoot by the corporate death machine. I wish you well in your endeavors. I also would love to see a network of smaller producers in a thriving community of neighbors not addicted to ego and expensive, flashy bullshit….
Mostly a legal operation for sure.
You know forced labor is much more prevalent in the traditional market than in the legal market. We failed our county when we didn’t allow our back-to-the-landing mom and pops to lead the cannabis transition. What we are left with is mostly corp Ag in legal market and shady Fookers in the black market. With a few good people hanging on
Wow. I agree and you’re turning my head. Not all permit scenes are greedy assholes. Just many of them are…Bulgarians get permits while the Mom n Pops got abated. It was shameful what we did here…
Additionally, a whole group of share croppers either lost their scenes or gave them up because they would no longer be profitable. Some were bad players, and it’s good they are out. Others were good community members, and their loss is a loss for all of us. As always, mostly those who started with the most have, are, and will benefit the most. Meanwhile, mostly those who started with the least have, are, and will suffer the most.
Ok I agree on that but why didn’t all the mom and pops apply.
We only had 3,000 applications.
I did my entire state application without a consultant.
We did the other 12,000 alleged grows go?
There are two main requirements for a permit.
LSA agreement with CDFW. Make sure your culverts are installed, proper distance from water ways.
They basically protect the waterways from your potential run off.
Water Rights. A NOI (notice of intent) is filed. You provide your source of water, property diagram and water storage placement and then you get a SUIR and a waste discharge approved and you are in business.
Now comes the real hard part.
Dealing with local authorization from the planning department.
If you are mad at anyone in this county, they provided a poor service to everyone.
Have you seen the PDF of all cannabis applications in Humboldt?
You wouldn’t be surprised.
You will see pre-existing farms take up to six years to get permitted.
You will also see new cultivation get permitted prior to sum farms getting an interim permit.
They destroyed southern Humboldt
That 12k estimate included indoor gardens, most of which were in residential or remote rural areas that had no chance of ever being permitted.
I’m not sure what the estimates were as far as number of indoor vs outdoor gardens at the peak.
Can anyone provide an address for this operation?
It’s the old bulb farm that place has been busted in the past and that John guy is Chicago mafia heard him bragging he moved 20 boats to chi already this year. Just google table bluff rd and look for the only property with all the green houses. He’s go a bunch more off 36 ect….
2103
Which gang?
Go to bear river on a weekend bud..
I’d rather not. How about you (or someone else) just share the info?
Isnt that called a coven?
My guess is he didn’t get busted growing the weed. I think he got popped selling cannabis on the black market across state lines through a criminal organization. His permitted farm maybe wasn’t his biggest issue. His Achilles heal was probably greed. Instead of making a modest living following the rules he probably went down the black market path. He’s probably from the black market, got a license, then continued his criminal enterprise under the cloak/guise of legality. This farmer is the epitome of why the legal market is suffering. The more corrupt people like himself get eliminated from the legal scene it will only help those trying to do things right. This person is innocent until proven guilty, but if he is in fact to be found guilty of these heinous crimes, especially human trafficking and weapons charges, he should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. This should be a Federal case with mandatory sentences to set an example for all the other cartel grows using our legal cannabis system to further their criminal enterprises.
This poor farmer, human trafficking, manufacturing ghost guns, etc. Just trying to make a buck…wtf is wrong with people defending this crap?
Greed…
Greed and guilt.
Guilt? I don’t see much of that. Please explain.
Yea people forget who started and kept this market alive for the government and corporations to step in make millions in sales and every tax the pants off you until you can’t survive. They take a living away from how many people who’ve provided a way for families to survive … the government and corporations have no idea about how much you have to commit your life and your earnings to cultivate cannabis but gladly walk in take what’s yours and tax you until you can’t afford to buy your family dinner on the weekends… America has been built off robbing the ppl from the beginning nothing’s changed.. fuck the legal market and all the government officials that rob the people… go secure our fucking border if you wanna do something..
“Human trafficking” the government is hauling illegals by the hundreds of thousands into this country and want to charge ppl for trafficking for hiring people that they walk drive and fly across the border that want to work this country is a JOKE
Human trafficking is a serious and grave crime that involves the exploitation of people through force, fraud, or coercion for various purposes. It is a form of modern-day slavery and a violation of human rights. The victims of human trafficking can be subjected to forced labor, sexual exploitation, or involuntary servitude.
Key aspects of human trafficking include:
So, it is most likely that they had illegal immigrants working for them. These workers simply have to claim that they were brought into the USA in order to work and it’s human trafficking.
Illegal immigrants are often given the chose of being a co-conspirator or a victim. One of many tricks Leo’s use to get more serious charges.
This is exactly how I picture the typical grow operation, but with a big bag of meth thrown in…
Ty law enforcement
This could turn out to be a lengthy story. Multiple llcs, different owners. Do your research.
Humboldt will be a better place if they can eradicate the pot farmers,
Humboldt economic is based around the culture of cannabis. This comment should be revisited with some thoughts
Vote no on measure A
John Fords Pay to play approach to regulation sure picked some winners ?
I wonder how much of the abatement revenue went to cal-pers…
Pays well to be a baller.
Seriously, the people LE should really be investigating for this sort of thing are Nicholas and Megan Siaosi…