Authorities in Riverside County have uncovered what they called a “large-scale psilocybin mushroom cultivation operation,” resulting in the arrest of a 43-year-old man.
Deputies assigned to the Riverside County Sheriff Department’s Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station responded in August to reports of a suspicious package at a business. Inside the package, authorities said , were psylocibin mushrooms and marijuana products.
This led to a months-long investigation, ultimately culminating in the identification of a suspect this month. Investigators identified Lake Elsinore resident Jesse Arroyo as the suspect and issued a search warrant for his home.
At the home, authorities discovered what they called a large-scale mushroom operation. The property had multiple structures for the cultivation, processing and storage of the mushrooms.
The following were seized during the search:
- Approximately 445 pounds of vacuum sealed psilocybin mushrooms
- About 2,805 bags containing psilocybin mushrooms in various stages of growth
- Two semi-automatic rifles (1 un-serialized)
- Shotgun
- Four semi-automatic handguns (2 un-serialized)
- One semiautomatic handgun suppressor
- Two ballistic vests