Six people arrested in $4.5M pot, bird-fighting bust

SACRAMENTO—The Sacramento County Sheriff's Department arrested six people people Monday for a $4.5 million illegal marijuana grow in Antelope, Calif.

Authorities also discovered evidence of bird fighting and Sacramento County Animal Control Officers removed over 100 birds from the property.

Sheriffs deputies were pursuing a search warrant at 28th Street and Angus Way on suspected illegal marijuana cultivation when they discovered the large scale operation.

The department said the site contained approximately 950 plants and about 200 pounds of processed marijuana, worth a street value of $4.5 million.

The department said six people were arrested in connection to the grow site: Chan Saetern, McMahony Saetern, Ou Saetern, Koy Saetern, Daniel Espinoza and Steven Santana.

The six suspects also face various other charges, including bird fighting and illegal possession of firearms. They also face charges for violating a Fish and Game code related to disrupting the water flow of creek water and unlawful streambed alteration -- a serious water diversion effort, especially during extreme drought.