Preston McCormick seeks justice for damages exceeding $10 million following controversial cannabis farm raid.
Preston McCormick, a cannabis farmer from California, has filed a lawsuit against the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, accusing them of conducting an “unlawful and illicit” raid on his cannabis farm, East Wind AG. The lawsuit, reviewed by Newsweek, detailed that after the raid on December 8, 2022, officers indulged in a “Pizza Party” on McCormick’s property, with 75 boxes of pizza discovered post-raid. This legal action comes a year after the controversial incident.
McCormick’s cannabis farm, located on Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indian Tribe land, had followed strict legal guidelines. The tribe had even established a Cannabis Control Commission to oversee various aspects of the marijuana industry, including production and sales. Despite McCormick providing evidence of his farm’s legitimacy to the sheriff’s office after learning of another unauthorized cannabis farm raid in November 2022, his property faced a predawn raid the following month. The lawsuit vividly recounts a harrowing scene where McCormick was confronted by over 20 armed officers at his home, leading to his arrest.
Complicating matters further, after the raid, the sheriff’s office was informed by tribal representatives that they lacked the authority to conduct such an operation on tribal lands. However, dismissing the tribe’s claims, sheriff’s office members asserted their actions, leading to significant destruction. The aftermath was dire for McCormick: not only were many of his plants destroyed and $300,000 seized from a tribal safe, but tragedy struck again on January 8, 2023. McCormick’s family home was engulfed in flames after the sheriff’s office ordered utilities to his property to be cut off, resulting in the loss of his home and personal belongings.
The lawsuit paints a picture of egregious violations of rights and property. McCormick is seeking justice for what he estimates to be “well in excess of $10 million in losses and damages.” As the legal battle unfolds, both Newsweek and the public await comments from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office and McCormick’s legal representatives.