Screen-grab from Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office website.

Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s detectives identified 18 suspects involved in two-large scale burglaries at a Carpinteria cannabis facility. 

The suspects allegedly stole 2,000 pounds of cannabis valued at more than $500,000 at the 4000-block of Foothill Road on Jan. 17 and Feb. 4, according to a Monday press release from the Sheriff’s Office.

Detectives obtained felony arrest warrants for each suspect for charges including burglary, grand theft and conspiracy. 

During the January burglary, the suspects wore masks and fled the site before law enforcement arrived. 

Three suspects were arrested during the February burglary, after they fled the facility in multiple vehicles. The incident led to two separate car crashes in Carpinteria. 

The suspects allegedly involved in the Jan. 17 burglary include:

  • Dvaryae Deshawn Bryant, 22, Los Angeles
  • Jeremiah Exzavis Wilson, 23, Lancaster
  • Isaiah Jovan Lee Piggue, 22, Lancaster
  • Jerry Angel Meneses Lopez, 26, Santa Monica
  • Justin Lawrence Smith, 26, Gardena
  • Kyre Albert Amari Richard, 21, Palmdale
  • Larry Eudell Lockridge III, 34, Los Angeles
  • London Malik Rogers, 25, Hawthorne
  • Norman Jay Williams, 37, Los Angeles

The suspects allegedly involved in the Feb. 6 burglary include:

  • Abraham Bustos, 21, Lynwood
  • Angel Alexis Rivera, 19, Lynwood
  • Jathan Douglas Matthews, 18, Los Angeles
  • Male juvenile, 17, South Gate (name withheld)
  • Male juvenile, 17, Lynwood (name withheld)
  • Justin Edward Castillo, 26, Cudahy
  • Katherine Chantal Lopez, 30, Los Angeles
  • Kevin Lamar Hardy, 21, Bellflower
  • Vincent Joshua Rioz, 22, Santa Fe Springs

The two juvenile suspects believed to be involved in the February burglary were referred to the Santa Barbara County Juvenile Court, according to the press release. 

“We will continue to aggressively investigate those who target legal cannabis and other businesses in Santa Barbara County, and we will work with our law enforcement partners to locate and apprehend these suspects,” said Sheriff Bill Brown in the press release. “Let this be a lesson for out-of-town criminals who seek to prey upon Santa Barbara County victims and businesses.”

Amanda Velasco is a Sara Miller McCune News-Press Summer Fellow and rising junior at UCLA, majoring in Public Affairs. She is the current News editor and was previously the Features and Student Life editor for UCLA’s student publication, The Daily Bruin.