Plaza bust results in arrests for meth and psilocybin mushrooms

On March 24th, 2022 special agents with the Humboldt County Drug Task Force (HCDTF), with the assistance of the Arcata Police Department (APD), and the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) conducted an undercover buy operation in the area of the Arcata Plaza. This operation was in response to multiple community complaints of drug dealing on and around the plaza area. 

During the operation an undercover agent contacted a male on the plaza who directed him to a motel room a few blocks away to purchase the methamphetamine. The agent successfully purchased methamphetamine in the motel parking lot from two individuals, Ezrah Cempa (22 years old from Arcata) and Joshua Blinn (42 years old from Arcata). 

(Cempa)

(Blinn)

Cempa and Blinn were placed under arrest and transported to the Humboldt County Jail where they were booked for the following charges:

• 182 PC Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine

• 11378 H&S Possession of methamphetamine for sale

Agents went back to the plaza and contacted a male about purchasing psilocybin mushrooms. This individual put the undercover agent in phone contact with a male that he described as selling all the “shrooms” around the plaza. The undercover agent contacted the individual on the phone and he agreed to meet the agent on South G St. in Arcata. 

(Adams)

(Wellington)

The undercover agent met Marshall Adams (40 years old from Arcata) and Victor Wellington (43 years old from Arcata) on South G St. Adams and Wellington sold the agent psilocybin mushrooms. 

Adams and Wellington were placed under arrest and transported to the Humboldt County Jail where they were booked for the following charges:

• 182 PC Conspiracy to distribute psilocybin mushrooms

• 11378 H&S Possession of psilocybin mushrooms for sale