While Loma Linda Prepares to Ban Collectives, One is Busted Nearby

A week before the Loma Linda City Council is scheduled to hold a final hearing on a ban of marijuana dispensaries in the city, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s announced the bust of a dispensary in a nearby city.

On June 15, deputies shut down and searched the Cognoscente Patients Collective, 18898 Valley Blvd. in the unincorporated area of Bloomington, and the Rialto, Fontana, Upland and Rancho Cucamonga homes of the collective’s employees.

The dispensary had been under investigation for three months by members of the Sheriff’s Narcotics Division-Marijuana Eradication Team, officials said.

Dispensaries were banned from county areas in March. Before that, the county had placed a moratorium on the facilities. Earlier this month Loma Linda followed by drawing up amendments that would prohibit the businesses from setting up in the city. The ban was passed on a first reading. A second reading is scheduled for June 28.

Investigators said the Bloomington dispensary was selling marijuana for profit, in violation of the Compassionate Use Act and Senate Bill 420 and of San Bernardino County Ordinances No. 4083, No. 4086, and No. 4110, which prohibits the opening of a medical marijuana facility within an unincorporated area of San Bernardino County, officials said.

This storefront business had been cited on at least four occasions by County Code Enforcement, but continued to sell marijuana, sheriff’s officials said.

Deputies arrested Michael Avilez, 33; Gabriel Avilez, 32; Gia Bozzi Fernandez, 49; Jose J. Fernandez, 25; Cody Santibanez, 20; Patrick J. Blake, 26; and Jacqueline Murillo, 19. As of  Sunday, deputies were still looking for Lynn Adam Cooter, 21, who officials said was reached by phone but refused to meet with or speak to investigators.

Narcotics officers said they found large amounts of cash, 50 pounds of marijuana packaged for sales and 250 marijuana plants being grown at the dispensary. Two more indoor marijuana grows were found at the homes of employees, according to officials.

During a search warrant service of the Upland home of the Avilez brothers, investigators said they found four handguns and evidence of a marijuana "Honey Oil" chemical extraction lab. Officials said the brothers were stealing electricity to supply power for their indoor cultivation within their home.

Marijuana was being grown at the homes of Blake and Gia Fernandez, who lives with her adult son Cooter, investigators said.

Jose Fernandez tried to run when deputies served the warrants at his home, officials said. Investigators said they found marijuana edibles being cooked at the location and accessible to a 2-year-old girl.

Deputies are searching for Cooter. The Department asks anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Narcotics Division at (909) 890-4840.