SONOMA:2 ACCUSED IN DRUG RING

Two Sonoma men are among six suspects arrested after a two-year investigation into a nationwide marijuana cultivation and trafficking ring, state Attorney General Kamala Harris said Wednesday.

Emory "Kip" Ayers, 64, and Alvin Cody Machado, 27, were among those picked up Tuesday as members of a multi-agency drug task force served search warrants on a dozen locations in Humboldt and Sonoma counties and San Francisco.

Agents seized 2,896 marijuana plants, 44 guns, 15 high-capacity magazines, 400 pounds of processed marijuana, a small amount of cocaine, mushrooms and $74,000 in cash from the locations, Harris said.

Ayers and Machado each were charged with possession of cocaine and booked into Sonoma County jail.

The others were Erik Sordal, 31, of Bridgeville; Scott Moore, 31, of Rio Dell; Shawn Mitten, 35, of Fortuna; and Jamie Gilbert, 35, of San Francisco. They all were charged with possession of marijuana for sale. Sordal additionally was charged with cultivation, child endangerment and possession of assault weapons.

-- Paul Payne