Police investigating a suspected illegal marijuana farm in a northern California county were surprised to discover a large cache of dangerous firearms and weapons. Shasta County authorities uncovered a 100-foot tunnel and a hidden bunker on the property of a Make America Great Again (MAGA) activist, which housed various illegal weapons including a sawn-off shotgun.
The underground bunker, equipped with essential facilities for growing marijuana, also featured amenities such as a gym, armchair, and television. Notably, a Bennington flag associated with supporters of Trump was found hanging on the wall. The significant arsenal, deemed a threat to public safety, was unearthed by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) during a search at the home of 40-year-old Michael Jay Kamfolt in Anderson.
CHP Northern Division Chief John Pinoli stated that the operation went beyond an illegal grow, emphasizing the serious risk posed to public safety by the hidden bunker and the alarming collection of illegal firearms and ammunition. Among the confiscated weapons were three AR-15-style assault rifles, a sawn-off shotgun, and over 10,000 rounds of ammunition.
Kamfolt, a well-known conservative activist and vocal supporter of Donald Trump, was apprehended on January 20. He has ties to prominent figures like Kevin Crye, a pro-Trump election denier and county supervisor. Crye expressed shock at Kamfolt’s arrest in a Facebook video, emphasizing the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
CHP acted on a tip received in December regarding the illicit marijuana cultivation on Kamfolt’s property, leading to the subsequent search and seizure operation. In total, officers confiscated 13 firearms, four soft body armor vests, and 30 high-capacity magazines, two of which were reported stolen in previous years.
While Kamfolt is no longer in custody, he faces multiple misdemeanor and felony charges related to weapons violations, including firearm alteration, ghost gun manufacturing, possession of stolen firearms, and possession of armor-penetrating ammunition.