On May 1, 2007, Nature’s Medicinal Collective in Oildale, CA was raided by the DEA, Kern County Sheriff, and Bakersfield Police Department.  Officers confiscated medicine and property, warning the dispensing collective not to reopen.  The collective reopened despite the threat and, after an 18-month investigation, the dispensing collective was raided again July 16, 2007.  In addition to confiscating medicine and property, officers arrested 8 patients including  the two owners, David Chavez, Sr., 48 and David Chavez, Jr, 28, plus six employees: John Wyatt, 29, John Shanks, 59, Israel Cavazos, 34, Jonathan Chapman, 28, Timothy Doolittle, 39, and Jennifer Brown, 34. on federal charges of conspiracy to distribute marijuana. 

Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood took credit for the shutdown. Records indicated the facility made over $9.6 million in sales over a 9-month period. The facility had been operating in compliance with local regulations and was paying taxes. Agents seized $50,000 in cash from the premises.

On February 17, 2009, Doolittle was sentenced to 30 months as a "minor player." He was released onDeptember 18, 2009.  On May 10, 2011, Cavazos, who also faced 20 years, was sentenced to 3 1/2 years after pleading guilty. Wyatt and Chapman also pleaded guilty. Wyatt was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison and 3 years probation on May 31, and Chapman was sentenced to 37 months. Jennifer Brown was sentenced to a year in prison and John Shanks received a 1 year 8 month sentence. Chavez Jr. has pleaded and is scheduled for sentencing on Dec. 3, 2012; his father is awaiting trial, with jury selection scheduled for November 2012.

ISRAEL CAVAZOS 63545-097
FCI LOMPOC
3600 GUARD ROAD
LOMPOC, CA 93436
Release date: 06-27-2014

JONATHAN M CHAPMAN 63546-097
FCI PHOENIX
37910 N 45TH AVE
PHOENIX, AZ 85086
Release date: 03-11-2014

JOHN RICHARD SHANKS 63521-097
CCM SACRAMENTO
501 I STREET, SUITE 9-400
SACRAMENTO, CA 95814
Released: 10-22-2012

John Wayne Wyatt 63522-097
CI TAFT
P.O. BOX 7001
TAFT, CA 93268
Release date: 07-16-2013