A North County San Diego father has pleaded guilty in federal court to multiple drug-related charges after admitting he gave hallucinogenic mushrooms to his children and involved them in cultivating and selling the illegal substance, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Randal Vance, 43, entered his guilty plea Friday in connection with a psilocybin distribution operation based in Fallbrook and Bonsall. Federal prosecutors said the case involved the use of minors and large-scale production of a controlled substance.
Case
Court records show Vance admitted that the conspiracy began when his sons were 9 and 11 years old. Psilocybin, the active compound in hallucinogenic mushrooms, is classified as a controlled substance under federal law.
According to the plea agreement, Vance began giving his children psilocybin capsules in October 2023. The doses were initially administered every other day and later increased to daily use in 2024. Prosecutors said he also supplied capsules to his 12-year-old son for distribution to others.
Operation
Vance acknowledged leading a conspiracy that used his children to help cultivate, harvest, and distribute psilocybin mushrooms. Federal authorities said the operation spanned properties in Fallbrook and Bonsall.
Investigators said Vance used two websites and social media accounts to market and sell the mushrooms. Products included dried and freeze-dried mushrooms, psilocybin-infused chocolates, and capsules containing concentrated psilocybin.
Searches
Search warrants were executed at the Fallbrook and Bonsall properties in October 2024. According to the Department of Justice, law enforcement seized more than 200 pounds of fresh psilocybin mushrooms and 78 pounds of dried mushrooms, along with mushroom-growing substrate and harvesting equipment.
Authorities also recovered about five pounds of psilocybin capsules.
Firearms
During the search of the Bonsall location, investigators seized six firearms, including a Glock handgun. Prosecutors said loaded magazines were found next to several of the weapons.
Vance was arrested the same day the warrants were served.
Co-Defendants
Vance’s wife, Rebecca Vance, 42, and a family friend, Keir Ceballos-Rivera, 34, were also charged in the case. Both previously pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
Prosecutors said that while Vance was out on bond and facing state charges, he and the co-defendants conspired to obstruct justice by deleting phone messages and removing the websites used to sell the drugs.
Charges
Vance pleaded guilty to multiple federal offenses, including conspiracy to use a minor to produce and distribute a controlled substance, conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, two counts of distributing a controlled substance to minors, and conspiracy to obstruct justice.
He is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 18. Rebecca Vance is scheduled for sentencing on July 17, and Ceballos-Rivera on Aug. 28.
FAQs
Who pleaded guilty in the case?
Fallbrook resident Randal Vance, 43.
What substance was involved?
Psilocybin, a federally controlled hallucinogen.
How were minors involved?
Vance admitted dosing his children and using them in production.
What did investigators seize?
Mushrooms, capsules, equipment, and firearms.
When is sentencing scheduled?
Vance is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 18.
