Georgi Antonov Tonev was arrested by HCSO yesterday on a Ramey Warrant PC 236.1(a ) for human trafficking.
I contacted HCSO PIO Erin Inskip and asked, Will there be a press release? If not, can you tell me the location of the arrest and if this was the result of a tip? She responded at 9:23 a.m. a press release will be issued shortly. That press release was issued on 3/12/25.
I found this online.
Tonev has convictions in all 5 traffic cases in Humboldt Superior Court. Two in 2017; one on 2018; one in 2019 and one in 2020.
Not the first arrest in Humboldt for human trafficking related to cannabis.
I am the only one reporting regularly since the arrest of human trafficking and money laundering suspects Uonan Uonan aka "Chicago John" aka Nicholas Machado and "KGB"'s Humboldt Superior Court 2024 criminal case has been dragging on with needless continuances and the same reasons for years.
3/12/26: DA filed complaint today. Arraignment this afternoon. Tonev is charged with filed 3/12, arraignment this afternoon. Ct 1 PC 236. 1 (a) human trafficking. Alleged victim Javier EscamillaGarcia. Ms. Andrea Sullivan has been retained.
Deputy District Attorney Rebecca Buckley-Stein is the prosecutor for the case. The People are going to file a PC 1275. 1 motion which requires the defendant to prove money or property used for bail was acquired legally and not through criminal activity.
Tonev shook his head when Humboldt Superior Court Judge Lawrence Killoran read the charge. I am sure as the investigation continues, the DA may add charges.
Bail is currently $465,000. OR bail on 3/16; preliminary hearing on 3/25.
HCSO Press Release:
On Mar 10 and 11, 2026, deputies with the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Marijuana Enforcement Team (MET) served a series of three search warrants as part of an ongoing investigation into labor trafficking at a state-licensed cannabis cultivation site. Two warrants were served on remote properties in Bridgeville, and one warrant was served on a remote property in Garberville. The Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Department of Cannabis Control assisted in the service of the warrants.
This investigation began on Feb. 22, 2026, when the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) received a call from the Mexican Consulate. Consulate officials were communicating with a victim who reported they were working on a cannabis cultivation site and had been left stranded alone on the property without food and without payment of owed wages.
HCSO MET initiated an investigation and determined the victim was located on a licensed cannabis cultivation site on a remote property northeast of Bridgeville. Deputies attempted to reach the victim but were unable to make contact due to environmental conditions and significant flooding in the area. Assistance was requested from the HCSO Search and Rescue Swift Water Rescue Team.
On Feb. 25, 2026, HCSO MET, with assistance from the Swift Water Rescue Team and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, were able to navigate the flooding and serve a search warrant on the cultivation site. Deputies located the victim and safely removed them from the property. Following the extraction, the victim was immediately connected with support services and resources through the Northern California Coalition to Safeguard Communities.
During the service of the search warrant, MET deputies observed failing, unsanitary, and inhumane infrastructure related to the living and working conditions on the site. Deputies also observed several regulatory violations related to the licensed cannabis operation. Based on the victim’s statements and the conditions observed on the property, investigators identified indicators consistent with labor trafficking.
Department of Cannabis Control investigators were not made available for the initial contact with the victim or inspection of the licensed premises. As the investigation continued, MET determined the licensee was not following state labor laws or worker requirements.
On Mar. 10, 2026, as part of the ongoing investigation at the Bridgeville properties, deputies located a primary suspect connected to the human trafficking allegations. Georgi Tonev, 45, of Bridgeville, was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility for violation of California Penal Code 236.1 - Human Trafficking.
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