In what has been described as one of the largest illegal cannabis operations in Los Angeles history, law enforcement authorities have executed a significant crackdown, leading to charges against six individuals involved in the illicit enterprise.
According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, this multi-agency investigation, named “Operation Sugar Diamond,” targeted a substantial illegal cannabis extraction business.
District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced that the investigation is tied to five fatalities linked to the illegal operation.
In 2023, four individuals tragically lost their lives in a devastating explosion at a warehouse located in Irwindale, while another employee died at a facility in South El Monte last year.
Ted Chien, aged 53, has been charged with five counts of murder, accompanied by the special circumstance allegation of multiple murders.
In addition, he faces charges of two felony counts of arson causing great bodily injury, eight felony counts related to the manufacturing of a controlled substance, and three felony counts of maintaining a place for the sale or use of a controlled substance.
If convicted on all counts, Chien could be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole or even receive the death penalty.
His co-defendant and business partner, Han Quan Jiao, 55, has been charged in connection with the same case.
Jiao faces one count each of murder and arson causing great bodily injury, alongside multiple counts related to manufacturing a controlled substance and maintaining a place for the sale or use of such substances.
If found guilty of these charges, Jiao could potentially face life imprisonment as well.
The remaining defendants—Xiaolong Deng, 36; Chengyan Xu, 61; Christopher Reyes, 30; and Frank Herrera, 35—are facing conspiracy charges regarding the manufacturing of controlled substances.
Specifically, Xu has been charged with two counts of manufacturing, compounding, or producing a controlled substance, while the others are charged with a single count of the same offense.
Deng, Reyes, and Herrera each face a maximum of seven years in prison if convicted, while Xu faces a slightly harsher maximum of eight years and eight months.
The criminal complaint also indicates that Deng, Xu, Reyes, and Herrera were involved in the production of concentrated cannabis, with Herrera additionally accused of transporting the product within Los Angeles County.
The investigation was prompted by catastrophic incidents linked to the operation.
On October 9, 2023, a massive explosion at a warehouse in Irwindale resulted in the tragic deaths of Yi Luo, 47, Xin Chen, 59, Guangqi Fu, 35, and Quizhuo Liang, 35, who were all employees at the site allegedly linked to Chien and Jiao’s honey oil extraction venture.
Later, on November 18, 2024, another fire broke out at a lab in South El Monte, leading to the death of employee Bordin “Tony” Sikarin, 57, also allegedly connected to Chien and Jiao’s operations.
Despite these fatalities, authorities claim that Chien and Jiao continued to run their illegal enterprise.
Earlier this week, over 150 law enforcement agents executed search warrants across nine locations throughout Los Angeles County, which included a significant lab located in La Verne.
At a press conference, Hochman declared the operation a monumental achievement, revealing that authorities seized over 27 tons of illegal cannabis products.
In fact, he noted that an astounding 80% of all cannabis sales in Los Angeles County are linked to unlicensed producers operating in the shadows.
Hochman had a straightforward message for those involved in illegal cannabis sales: “You are much better off closing down your operations today than actually having me make you the subject of my next press conference.”
image source from：foxla
