A California Highway Patrol raid on an illicit marijuana grow in conservative Shasta County uncovered a staggering underground bunker packed with illegal weapons, stolen firearms, and enough ammunition to outfit a small militia. The discovery, involving an arrest on multiple felony weapons charges, has become political fodder in the deeply divided county, where the suspect is a known MAGA activist and ally of a local County Supervisor. The incident is being held up as a prime example of how California’s restrictive gun control laws fail to stop actual criminal activity while burdening law-abiding citizens.
Story Highlights
- CHP discovered a 100-foot underground bunker with 13 firearms, including ghost guns and stolen weapons, during a marijuana grow raid on January 20, 2026.
- Michael Jay Kamfolt, 40, was arrested on multiple felony weapons charges but released on $50,000 bail the next day despite the arsenal seizure.
- The sophisticated bunker contained body armor, 30 high-capacity magazines, 10,000 rounds of ammunition, and a marijuana cultivation operation.
- Local Shasta County Supervisor Kevin Crye defended his political ally, urging presumption of innocence amid ongoing investigation.
Discovery of Fortified Underground Bunker
California Highway Patrol officers executed a search warrant on Michael Jay Kamfolt’s Anderson property on January 20, 2026, following a month-long investigation that began with a December 2025 tip about illegal cannabis cultivation. What started as a routine marijuana grow investigation escalated dramatically when officers discovered a sophisticated underground bunker accessed through a 100-foot drainage culvert. The fortified hideout featured power, ventilation systems, concrete flooring, and drainage infrastructure—far beyond what would be necessary for a simple grow operation. Inside, investigators found gym equipment, a television, furniture, and a Bennington flag, alongside the marijuana cultivation setup.
California pot bust reveals secret bunker filled with massive weapons cache https://t.co/D9R7NWdpni pic.twitter.com/1mpgk880jx
— New York Post (@nypost) January 28, 2026
Extensive Illegal Weapons Cache Seized
The bunker raid revealed an arsenal that raised serious public safety concerns for law enforcement. CHP officers seized 13 firearms, including three AR-15-style rifles, a sawed-off shotgun, a ghost gun, and two stolen firearms dating back to 1978 and 2016. Investigators also confiscated four soft body armor vests, 30 high-capacity magazines, and approximately 10,000 rounds of ammunition, including armor-piercing rounds. Kamfolt faces multiple felony charges including ghost gun manufacturing, machine gun conversion, possession of stolen firearms, armor-piercing ammunition possession, and high-capacity magazine violations under California’s restrictive penal codes. Despite the extensive weapons charges, he posted $50,000 bail and was released January 21.
Political Connections in Conservative Stronghold
Kamfolt is a vocal MAGA activist in Shasta County, a rural Northern California region that has become a focal point for conservative politics since 2022. He has actively supported County Supervisor Kevin Crye, a pro-Trump election integrity advocate who led efforts to replace Dominion voting machines with hand-counted ballots. Kamfolt participated in county meetings protesting alleged voting fraud and confronted Crye’s political opponents outside the supervisor’s business in May 2025. Following Kamfolt’s arrest, Crye posted a Facebook video expressing support for his “good friend,” emphasizing the presumption of innocence and urging the community not to rush to judgment. The arrest has become political fodder in a county already divided over far-right activism and election denialism.
California’s Gun Laws Target Wrong People
CHP Chief John Pinoli stated the operation “went far beyond an illegal grow” and “highlights the threat posed to public safety.” Yet this case perfectly illustrates how California’s draconian gun control measures—banning ghost guns, high-capacity magazines, and armor-piercing ammunition—utterly failed to prevent an actual criminal from amassing an illegal arsenal. Instead, these same laws burden law-abiding Californians who simply want to exercise their Second Amendment rights for legitimate self-defense. The investigation remains ongoing with additional leads being pursued, though no charges have been filed with the Shasta County District Attorney’s office as of late January 2026. Kamfolt has no prior criminal convictions in Shasta County records, raising questions about how someone with a clean record allegedly accumulated stolen firearms spanning decades.
The discovery underscores ongoing tensions in Shasta County between law enforcement and segments of the conservative community who view government actions with deep suspicion. While the bunker’s sophisticated construction and extensive weapons cache clearly warranted law enforcement response, the case highlights broader concerns about illegal cannabis operations funding other criminal activities in rural California. The combination of an underground fortification, illegal weapons manufacturing, and stolen firearms elevates this beyond a typical marijuana bust, yet the swift bail release demonstrates how California’s criminal justice system often fails to adequately address genuine threats while simultaneously punishing lawful gun owners with ever-increasing regulations that criminals simply ignore.
Watch the report: Stockpile of guns/ammo found inside hidden underground bunker in Northern California
Sources:
- Shasta man had illicit marijuana grow and underground bunker in addition to illegal weapons, CHP says – Shasta Scout
- Secret bunker, weapons stash found at MAGA activist’s California home – LA Times
- 100-foot tunnel, secret bunker discovered at Northern California home
- Raid uncovers illegal pot operation, underground bunker, firearms, ammo, body armor
