Modesto duo arrested as Mississippi authorities suspect $1M in marijuana trafficked from California

OG article Brandon by Downs

November 17, 2025

A Modesto couple faces serious felony charges after their arrest in Mississippi, where authorities uncovered a large-scale marijuana trafficking operation allegedly sourcing product from California. Jose De Jesus Vasquez Estrada, 26, and Karissa Renee McDonald, 23, were pulled over Wednesday afternoon during a routine traffic stop on Interstate 20 in Rankin County, east of Jackson. Deputies grew suspicious of the vehicle's nervous occupants and conducted a probable cause search, discovering approximately 120 pounds of high-grade marijuana vacuum-sealed in duffel bags hidden throughout the SUV. Further investigation led to a rented storage facility near Jackson International Airport, where a search warrant executed Friday revealed a staggering 500 additional pounds of the drug, packaged in bulk bricks and ready for street-level distribution. Officials believe the marijuana was shipped cross-country from California's prolific cultivation hubs, repackaged locally, and funneled to dealers across the Magnolia State, with an estimated street value exceeding $1 million. The bust marks a significant win for Mississippi's narcotics task force, which has intensified efforts to disrupt out-of-state supply chains amid rising domestic demand. Estrada and McDonald, both California residents with no prior records in the state, are being held on $250,000 bonds each, charged with conspiracy to traffic a Schedule I controlled substance—a crime carrying up to 30 years in prison. The probe remains active, with investigators anticipating more arrests as they trace financial trails and potential accomplices. This incident underscores the persistent allure of California's black-market cannabis for Southern distributors, even as legalization spreads, highlighting enforcement challenges in non-legal states.