(Woodland, CA) – May 11, 2022 – The Yolo County District Attorney’s Consumer Fraud and Environmental Protection Division obtained $3,250.00 in restitution for First 5 Yolo as a result of the Division’s recent prosecution of an illegal cannabis grower. First 5 Yolo’s mission is to be of service to children during their first five years of life, along with their families, through direct services and systems change efforts.
Cynthia Chew agreed to pay penalties; complete community service; not participate in the cannabis industry for ten years; and pay restitution to First 5 Yolo. Yolo County has dozens of permitted growers operating in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. However, the County remains susceptible to illegal operations that may damage our public and private lands and place into the stream of commerce unregulated and/or possibly unsafe cannabis. This restitution payment, as ordered by the Court, should further assist First 5 Yolo in raising awareness for some of our County’s more susceptible children through their existing programs.
District Attorney Reisig stated that “Our office is committed to pursuing appropriate remedies against illegal cannabis growers. Criminal law penalties have been significantly reduced for illegal cultivation. Therefore, civil penalties often deliver greater deterrence and accountability in these cases. In addition, as part of such civil cases, we are able to negotiate beneficial payments to groups that advocate for children, like First 5 of Yolo. We support First 5 Yolo’s goal of assisting the community to raise safe and healthy children, and we will continue, as appropriate, to assist First 5 Yolo in their mission.”
Gina Daleiden, Executive Director of First 5 Yolo, expressed her appreciation stating that “First 5 Yolo is grateful to our District Attorney, Jeff Reisig, for taking action for mothers and their very young children. The dedication of funding for early childhood is a strong statement that DA Reisig understands that investments early in life prevent and reduce more entrenched problems later in life. This action is leading-edge in policy, recognizing the critical and foundational nature or early childhood.”
To date, First 5 Yolo has received a total of $56,250 as a result of these restitution payments. To learn more about First 5 Yolo, or to become a donor, please visit www.first5yolo.org.
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