$2.9M In Mushrooms, 7 Guns Seized In Lake Elsinore Bust, Police Say

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — A Lake Elsinore man was arrested this month in connection with a large-scale psilocybin mushroom operation after a business received a suspicious package over the summer, authorities said.

Jesse Arroyo, 43, was arrested in connection with the package, running a large-scale psilocybin mushroom cultivation operation. Police said they seized an estimated street value of $2.9 million of psilocybin mushrooms from Arroyo's residence, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

In August, deputies in Lake Elsinore were called to a business that reported a suspicious package that held psilocybin mushrooms and marijuana products, officials said. This month, deputies identified Arroyo as the one who shipped the package to the business.

After finding his address, deputies issued a search warrant, which was served with the Riverside Sheriff's Special Enforcement Bureau. Deputies said they discovered the large mushroom operation and seized the following items:

• Approximately 445 pounds of vacuum-sealed psilocybin mushrooms.
• About 2,805 bags containing psilocybin mushrooms in various stages of growth.
• Two semi-automatic rifles (1 un-serialized)
• Shotgun
• Four semi-automatic handguns (2 un-serialized)
• One semiautomatic handgun suppressor.
• Two ballistic vests.

Arroyo was booked into the Cois Byrd Detention Center and faces multiple felony drug-related offenses and felony weapons violations.

No other information was immediately available.

Anyone with information on the case was urged to contact the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station at 951-245-3300.