MIX-UP LEADS TO RELEASE OF MARIJUANA-BUST SUSPECTS

A "mix-up" among the agencies involved in a massive marijuana bust led
to the release of the men accused of growing the plants, authorities
said.

"There was just some confusion between the agencies who handled it,"
said Gil Garcia, commander of the Department of Safety's drug unit.
"It's difficult to say whose fault it was. (The Department of Public
Safety) was the leading agency, so we're taking responsibility."

Four men were arrested and booked into the Salt Lake County Jail in
connection to a huge marijuana crop found in Emigration Canyon Oct.
20. Authorities discovered more than 1,000 plants -- worth about $700,000.

It was one of Utah's biggest marijuana harvests ever
found.

The Department of Public Safety had 72 hours to turn the investigation
over to federal prosecutors. They failed to do so and the men were
released from jail.

DPS turned the case over to prosecutors the day after the release and
formal charges were filed Friday.

Salvador Mondragon-Ramos, Enrique Espinozo-Aquillar, Octoviano Medel
Bernadaodino and Humberto Ramirez-Rincon each face a count of
manufacturing marijuana and aiding and abetting, according to U.S.
District Court documents.

But the charges may have come too late. Three of the defendants may
have left Utah for their native country of Mexico. If that's the case,
Utah authorities have no way to bring them back for trial, Garcia said.

One of the defendants is a Salt Lake resident and was picked up on
Friday. He was arraigned in federal court.

Garcia knows the charges will discourage the other three from
returning to Utah but believes they may try to come back after the
case "blows over," he said.

"We're still actively looking for them," Garcia added.

Checked-by: Patrick Henry