Federal plea deal reached for illegal marijuana farms in New Mexico
By Nick Catlin
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New Mexico (KOAT) — A New Mexico man pleaded guilty to federal charges after dozens of illegal marijuana farms were discovered.
Federal investigators found more than 30 farms were established illegally, covering hundreds of acres on Navajo Nation land. More than 1,100 greenhouses were involved in the apparent operation.
Dineh Benally, 48, pleaded guilty to four counts related to manufacturing significant amounts of marijuana with intent to distribute. He was also charged with related conspiracy charges, illegal hiring practices involving migrants, and illegal firearm possession in relation to drug trafficking.
Court documents show Benally was convicted on 15 total federal counts related to his role in the cannabis growing operation. The initial federal indictment also saw charges being filed against his father Donald Benally, 74, and 73-year-old Irving Rea Yui.
Benally was accused of operating more than 30 farms on land obtained from members of the Navajo Nation. It was found Benally and another person traveled to California to create front companies to entice investors from China.
The investigation also found Benally created an illegal sandbag dam on the San Juan River for irrigation. However, this led to pollutants being discharged into the protected waterway. Benally was charged with two counts of polluting the river.
Law enforcement first responded to the properties in November 2020. Roughly 260,000 marijuana plants and 60,000 pounds of processed marijuana were recovered.
A marijuana growing operation in Estancia was then under federal investigation. That response came after state inspectors found uncontrolled pest infestations and other quality violations that caused Benally to have his license revoked in December 2023.
That facility in Estancia was found to ignore its cease-and-desist order that was issued. Benally faces a mandatory 15 years in prison and up to life in prison at sentencing.
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