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Feds seek to keep $774,000 linked to Gold Hill pot raid By Nick Morgan Updated: Dec 15, 2021 04:31 PM A A 3 View all photos Jackson County Sheriff’s Office photo Police allegedly found $289,650 cash in this bag during an Aug. 31 raid in Gold Hill. Federal prosecutors are seeking forfeiture of more than $643,000 allegedly linked to the operation. Jackson County Sheriff’s Office photo One of numerous sheds and greenhouses that the Jackson County Illegal Marijuana Enforcement task force found on Aug. 31 in the 10000 block of Old Stage Road in Gold Hill. Federal prosecutors seek forfeiture of more than $643,000 allegedly linked to the pot operation. Jackson County Sheriff’s Office photo The Jackson County Illegal Marijuana Enforcement Team allegedly found more than 9,000 pounds of illicit marijuana during a raid Aug. 31 in Gold Hill. The U.S. Attorney’s Office filed a suit last week in U.S. District Court in Medford seeking forfeiture of $643,526 cash it says stemmed from an illegal marijuana operation in Gold Hill that involved at least 52 workers and more than 9,000 pounds of marijuana. They also want $131,287 from a spouse’s checking account balance that they say is linked to an Aug. 31 search of the illicit pot operation located at 10895 Old Stage Road. The Jackson County Illegal Marijuana Enforcement Team allegedly found five- and six-figure bundles of cash scattered throughout the home. Police said they found $132,400 next to a living room fireplace, $90,001 hidden inside a TV box, $42,655 inside a child’s bedroom, $23,575 inside a dining room closet, $19,480 hidden inside a couch and $1,955 inside a bathroom, according to an affidavit filed in the case Friday. There was more than $325,000 in the master bedroom alone: $289,650 in a blue and white bag, $16,562 between two nightstands, $16,200 in the hamper, $2,000 in a dresser, $1,400 in a purse and $3,650 elsewhere in the bedroom. There was $4,998 on the property owner, identified by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office as Hernan Sanchez-Villalobos. Police arrested Sanchez-Villalobos at the time on felony charges of manufacturing, possessing and exporting marijuana, conspiring to distribute marijuana and laundering money; however, as of Wednesday, neither the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office nor the U.S. Attorney’s Office had filed charges against Sanchez-Villalobos. The IMET investigation allegedly began Aug. 5 with a tip about numerous hoop-style greenhouses at another property on Hanley Road in Medford. A break in the investigation happened after detectives followed a truck and utility trailer to the Gold Hill property, which was not licensed or permitted to grow recreational or medical marijuana. Police questioned 52 people at several barns on the property, according to the affidavit and an earlier news report. Sanchez-Villalobos allegedly admitted to investigators about paying his laborers per pound of marijuana trimmed, and selling strains with names such as “Ice Cream Cake,” “Gelato” and “OG” on the black market for $400 to $600 per pound. Feds also seek forfeiture of more than $132,000 from a checking account in the name of Sanchez-Villalobos’ wife. His wife allegedly told investigators that she owned a cleaning business, but could only provide a business name of “Family Cleaning.” Feds allege that she couldn’t provide the names of any clients, nor could she explain a recent $5,500 deposit. Reach web editor Nick Morgan at 541-776-4471 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @MTwebeditor.