With charges still pending, CHP search warrant reveals further details about the case against Michael Kamfolt

The raid of the Anderson man’s home made headlines, drawing attention to Kamfolt’s “underground bunker,” alleged cache of firearms, and his friendship with Supervisor Kevin Crye. Six months later, the Shasta County District Attorney’s office said it’s reviewing Kamfolt’s case.

An photo from a search warrant affidavit prepared by the California Highway Patrol before raiding Michael Kamfolt’s property in Anderson on Jan. 20

Back in late January, the California Highway Patrol’s Northern Division publicized the raid of Michael Kamfolt’s sprawling property in Shasta County. The agency’s press release framed its operation around the discovery of several illegal firearms during what it claimed was an investigation into an “illicit cannabis cultivation operation.” 

CHP included eye-catching photos in its announcement — including high-flash snapshots of a concrete space referred to as an “underground bunker.” The drama of those initial breaking news stories led to coverage from national news media, which also focused on Kamfolt’s political identity and friendship with Shasta County Supervisor Kevin Crye, who denied knowing anything about the allegations. 

Since January 22, neither CHP nor the county have provided updates on how the highly publicized case was progressing, and have not explained why photos of cannabis were not included in CHP’s press release, or why Kamfolt was released on a $50,000 bail without any charges being filed. 

In the weeks following the arrest, aware that raiding Kamfolt’s private residence without a judge’s sign-off would violate the Fourth Amendment, Shasta Scout unsuccessfully attempted to obtain CHPs search warrant package. 

Prior to executing a search, law enforcement must outline probable cause in a document known as a search warrant affidavit, which must be approved by a judge. Once signed off, California law requires search warrants to be executed and returned to the courts within 10 days.

Last week, half a year later, Shasta Scout finally received those documents. The returned search warrant package was filed with the courts on March 23, two months after the search occurred and more than six weeks later than required by law.

The warrant package was marked unsealed, contradicting what CHP told Shasta Scout in response to a public records request for the warrant in February. It includes a detailed log of what CHP alleges was found on Kamfolt’s property in January.

Among other items, the log lists various rounds of ammunition, magazines, body armor, and several firearms, including a Serbian-made semi-automatic rifle and 12-gauge shotgun with a noted “illegal alteration.” Many of the firearms, including  a “privately made” semi-automatic pistol, allegedly had no listed serial numbers. The search warrant packet’s log also documented a “plastic bag with green substance,” with 156.1 grams of what was described as cannabis. California Safety Code limits the amount of cannabis one person can legally possess to 28.5 grams. 

According to the search warrant affidavit, officers intended to look for marijuana plants that had allegedly been seen during aerial surveillance, along with marijuana paraphernalia like scales, sifters, alligator clips, baggies, and other items associated with processing and sales. Other than the finding of the bag of what was allegedly marijuana, the completed search warrant package did not list any of these items among what officers recovered at the scene.

Nathan Dondi, an attorney with Tully & Weiss who said he’s representing Kamfolt, did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication today. But during an April interview, Dondi alleged multiple missteps by CHP both during the execution of the search warrant — and before. 

The attorney provided a statement and associated documentation claiming that Kamfolt was stopped on I-5 in the Sacramento area last September, during which he said the Central Valley’s Tri-county Drug Enforcement Team, contracted by CHP, confiscated just over $180,000 in cash from Kamfolt’s vehicle. Dondi alleged that the seizure was implemented during a “warrantless search” and claimed Kamfolt had the money on hand because was intending to purchase cattle. 

Addressing the raid on Kamfolt’s property, Dondi noted that while “public statements by law enforcement following the operation characterized the investigation as involving an ‘illicit cannabis cultivation operation,’ based on the evidence currently known, that characterization is inconsistent with the results of the search.” 

In tandem with how CHP handled both searches, Dondi claimed the agency’s conduct “presents a pattern that risks normalizing intrusions on constitutional rights while being framed as routine law enforcement activity.” 

CHP told Shasta Scout by email today that there are no additional updates for the case on the agency’s side adding that it has submitted recommended charges to Shasta’s DA. In a comment last week, Shasta’s DA said that the agency is reviewing Kamfolt’s case for the potential filing of charges.


Do you have a correction to share? Email us: editor@shastascout.org.

Author

Nevin reports for Shasta Scout as a member of the California Local News Fellowship.

Comments (26)
  1. REGULATORS…, I memes SCSO… mount up. We gots WEED ta steal and sell in Reno, NV!

  2. That guy Kamfolt is part of the “Pipe Hitters” like Crye, Kelstrom, Jones, Smith, Rapoza, Lane, Zapata Picata, Hale, n Shasta Sheriffs n lots more SOJ51 KCNR Mark Kent recruits that approved a hit on Steven G King! That’s why King was a quitted, yet knowing now it was a hit, the D.A. office says King has to go back to RPD to make a report about those same ppl putting King n Michael Sutter Hale on a “red flag” to continue to stalk and kill them asap for uncovering the hit and election fraud and the theft and fraud against the United States of America and RPD Lovelady and the D.A., Nolan Weber, who got out of town because of his involvement of cover-ups as stated under a 402 form, immunity, plead the fifth where Hale stated “we have a D.A. that will make sure we will be let off” and spilled the beans on a lot of the criminal cops, sheriffs, Crye, Kelstrom, etc that were knowing of King’s emails, etc and the “hierarchy” authorized hit job on King. Jesse Lane also plead the fifth, got 402 immunity, and acted like he was clueless to it all, including the Cottonwood Militia, soj51, the Pipe hitters or his conspiracy with said folks that sent Hale n Smith to King’s home in a rented vehicle to be concealed. Then, Jesse Lane just lied out his bungholes stating King was stalking him and his daughter n wife, like Zapata did in front of judge Baker, all lies, and oddly enough, Judge Baker was communicating with Patrick Henry Jones about the King TROs as Jones stated on the Jefferson State of Mine KCNR show he was communicating with Judge Baker… and throw in Atty Shon Northam helping Lane with his TRO against King and then showing up early to the court to go into Baker’s office before the TROs cases, for what? I think it’s pretty clear. Then, Baker “retired” the same time the RPD cops were fired, and Chief Barner was put on leave, and RPD lies continue to flow, like Baker’s lies and subject changes against King’s question from his courtroom. You should know by now this is all RNC connected project 2025, Bill Johnson’s Seven Mountain Mandate, Molly Bigelow and her Gardner’s adoptions, Kevin Crye on his radio show talking “adoptions” (Russian I’m sure”) and ultimately, Florida strip clubs, missing norcal native Americans and the ongoing coup by trump and blocking the release of the Epstein Files. Go read the transcripts on the King Case! Look into Crye visiting with drunk Kash Patel! That’s not suspicious, huh!? Bottom line, RPD n Weber handing Hale and Lane immunity deals and not calling in others fingered in court tells me that what Hale said on the stand, “we have a D.A. that will get us off”, is correct! Weber n Lovelady got them “off”! Both Weber n Lovelady lied constantly trying to screw king for there “handler’s” and put him away for life to shut King up. Their day is coming. Better be ready for civil war n trump, and maybe Crye pillow, staying in office after January 27. Tick Tock.

    • Does anyone KNOW wtf GERRYMANDER means, Governor?

  3. Perhaps this is an ongoing investigation into his gun toting militia friends, illegal weapons, explosives and West Coast East Coast narcotics trafficking including dirty cops. That explains it FBI.

    • Multiple news outlets, including the Los Angeles Times, describe Kamfolt as a MAGA activist and conservative political activist active in Shasta County politics.
      He was active in election-related protests and attended Shasta County Board of Supervisors meetings where he raised concerns about election fraud.
      .
      Kamfolt publicly described himself as a “good friend” of Shasta County Supervisor Kevin Crye and said he would “do anything to help him out” during a 2025 protest.
      .
      In January 2026, California Highway Patrol officers arrested Kamfolt after executing a search warrant. Authorities reported discovering:
      a concealed underground bunker, multiple firearms, body armor,
      approximately 10,000 rounds of ammunition, and alleged illegal weapons including a machine gun and short-barreled firearm. The criminal case has been reported as ongoing.
      .
      Shasta Scout reported that Kamfolt had appeared alongside individuals identified as members of local militia groups at a Board of Supervisors meeting and had reshared pro-Nazi, antisemitic, and Islamophobic material on X. Those are reported observations by the publication, not court findings.
      .
      “It came to my attention today that a supporter and I’ll even say a friend of mine was arrested last night, and my heart is truly broken.” Kiven Crye.
      .
      This is one of many reasons Crye has been rejected by Shasta County Voters. Sorry, Crye, but even in Redding, the majority of people are not supporters or friends of militia groups who post pro-Nazi, antisemitic, and Islamophobic material on X.

    • Did you all forget about the Redding police officer. Bethel affiliate and co-conspiracy partners busted in a multi-million dollar indoor marijuana operation. Oh yeah slap on the wrist. Brushed under the rug.
      Rules for thee but not me. So many pos people in power on the take! Whether it be illicit drugs or fraud schemes!! It’s rampant these days. And both sides of the aisle politicians have created this problem!! They do it so the public service patrons think they have the right to I guess! No accountability and justice these days!!
      Bring back public executions!

  4. Shasta Scout states that California law limits the marijuana that “one person can legally possess to 28.5 grams.” That is not true. As person can legally grow up to six marijuana plants per household in Shasta County if the marijuana is grown inside a structure. That amount equals a minimum of twelve pounds and a maximum of thirty pounds–or more.

    Shasta Scout holds that an inquiry in February of the CHP that resulted in a response that the warrant package was still sealed is contradicted by March filing of the warrant package as unsealed. Where is the contradiction.

    I strongly suspect that the search warrant is terminally flawed and that no charges will result from the evidence obtained therefrom.

  5. And where is the 180k they confiscated from him?

    • LEOs typically use funds seized through civil asset forfeiture to buy all the tactical toys they’d normally have a hard time justifying. And unlike criminal matters, the burden of proving the funds were lawfully acquired typically falls to the victim, often ensnaring lawful small business owners and travelers.

      The netflix movie Rebel Ridge highlights the practice (which only 3 states – Maine, Montana, and New Mexico) outlaw.

  6. If I’m being generous, this looks like incompetence on the part of CHP and the DA.
    .
    If I’m being less generous, it looks like CHP and the DA are slow-rolling this case—or purposefully dropping the ball—because Kamfolt has political allies (like Crye) who are pressuring them.
    .
    It also strikes me as weird that the Sheriff’s Office wasn’t involved in a bust that would appear to have “joint task force” written all over it. Again, because Kamfolt has friends in the SO, so that LE agency couldn’t be trusted?
    .
    The whole thing stinks like a dead carp laid out in the August sun.

  7. This case is a stunning failure of the local CHP, and perhaps all of Shasta County law enforcement!
    .
    First, Shasta County has an active multi-agency drug task force called the Shasta Interagency Narcotics Task Force (SINTF), consisting of the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office, Shasta County Probation Department, Shasta County District Attorney’s Office, Anderson Police Department, and, yes, the CHP is a member.
    .
    Based on historical programmatic data and multi-agency cost-sharing structures, Shasta County taxpayers contribute an estimated $500,000 to $1 million annually in indirect value to operate the Shasta Interagency Narcotics Task Force (SINTF).
    .
    July 2026, the Shasta County Board of Supervisors formally accepted a $423,612.64 grant passed through the California Highway Patrol’s Cannabis Tax Fund Grant Program (derived from Proposition 64 state revenues). SINTIF also gets money from asset Seizure and forfeiture revenue, estimated at $50,000–$150,000+ annually. See ledger code (Account 799260 – Asset Seizure/Forfeiture SINTF from Shasta County Line-Item Revenue Data information.

    Questions must be asked.
    .
    1. Was there a “Political” component to this failure, and if so, who was involved?
    .
    2. Why was this NOT organized and executed by SINTIF, and who made the decision not to do so?
    .
    The Shasta County Grand Jury should look at this case and determine if the failure was committed out of malfeasance (an intentional, illegal, and wrongful act performed by someone in authority), ignorance, or both.
    .
    Meanwhile, take a drive, like I did last weekend, to Lassen Park and count how many traffic violations you witness, including speeding up to at least 80 MHP, drivers crossing double lines (sometimes in BLIND CORNERS), and tailgating. WT-?
    .
    Next, count how many CHP vehicles you see. Right.
    .
    We won’t even talk about I-5 here….

    • If you think the drive to Lassen is bad…try driving east on SR 299 to Burney and beyond.
      Lotta A Hole drivers east and west.
      Where are the CHP when you need them?

      • Parked behind a bush on 273 to ticket drivers going 65 in a 60.

  8. Shasta Scout is doing the public a good service in following up on this and other stories. It’s appreciated.

  9. It is evil…
    People who use drugs always tell the rest of us how harmless they are. They are not…
    See what the doctors say
    http://www.IASIC.ORG

    Kamfolt has “allegedly” been a dope dealer for a long time (personal knowledge),,,he just finally got caught. No waste of money here…. this was allegedly a felon of the dangerous kind….dangerous illegal weapons are not ok and say a bunch about the mentality of the person… what are his connections to the militia.. will they disavow him now? He had marijuana growing openly at his “ranch” (personal knowledge):…. he stopped his outdoor pursuit to grow it underground.. he was using water from the aquifer and creek… all violations of the law.. Anyone can look at Google Earth.. go back in time and see his grow….none of this is ok…

    • In California and most of the West, you’re legally allowed to use water from a creek or stream running through or next to your property (riparian water rights).

      • Not for pot…

        Read our water wasting ordinance
        I helped write it

        • The ordinance does not affect riparian (surface) water rights. It applies only to (underground) well water.

      • Amen Brother!!!

  10. WARNING XX!!
    This could be you!

    Signed, Con.cerned Citizen

  11. Pretty basic stuff. They act like he had no weed there. The original bust had a turkey bag with a little weed. Even though it was ordinarily a legal amount when you combine that with firearms even the legal firearms are now illegal. The Shasta county da is way behind in charging him. I’ve heard a few possible reasons beyond the obvious budget constraints. One being they are investigating for more arrests. The other is they are waiting for Kevin Crye to leave office so he cannot botch it up for his friend. Regardless he still had combinations that can be charged. Ghost guns and fully auto guns are illegal. No matter how you look at it.

    • The Supreme Court just ruled, unanimously, that the 2nd Amendment protects marijuana users (United States v. Hemani 06/18/2026)

      • A federal judge in Texas just ruled the NFA unconstitutional. This is the law regulating silencers and automatic weapons.

        The ruling isn’t binding here, but shows the tide is turning against restrictions on civilian weaponry not also placed on the government.

  12. Kinda sounds like the CHP need to be charged so the courts can get info on how legal or illegal this search was.

  13. Seems like they forgot about the 2 stolen guns in his possession. CHP is unwilling to release them to the rightful owners till after the DA makes a decision.

  14. More wasted tax dollars at work by LE
    Sounds like a cartoon version of the stunning cops.
    I’m certainly against illegal tactics by LE but mixing the offenses of an underground military style bunker with marijuana grows is unconscionable.
    Get rid of the weak and uncharacteristic claim of marijuana is evil. When the true information is something from the CHP task force as something they totally fuckef up

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