A 43-year-old San Diego County man has admitted to recruiting his two young children into a conspiracy to grow and distribute hallucinogenic psilocybin mushrooms while also feeding them psilocybin capsules on a daily basis. Randal Vance entered the plea as part of a deal with federal prosecutors in the Southern District of California.
According to court documents, Vance worked with his wife, Rebecca Vance, 42, and a friend, Keir Ceballos-Rivera, 34, to cultivate and sell psilocybin mushrooms from two properties in north San Diego County. The operation involved growing large quantities of the mushrooms and marketing them through websites and an Instagram account.
What Vance Admitted
As part of his plea agreement announced Friday, Vance admitted that he began giving his 9- and 11-year-old sons psilocybin capsules every other day starting in October 2023. By 2024, he was providing the capsules to them daily. He also gave his older son mushrooms to sell to friends.
During the execution of a search warrant in October 2024, law enforcement officers discovered significant quantities of mushrooms and growing materials at two locations:
- In Fallbrook: 257 pounds of mushrooms and 18 pounds of growing material.
- In Bonsall: 25 pounds of mushrooms, 5 pounds of psilocybin capsules, and six firearms.
Vance further admitted that after his arrest, he and his co-conspirators attempted to destroy evidence by deleting phone messages and taking down the two websites used to market the mushrooms.
The Scope of the Operation
Federal authorities described the operation as a coordinated effort to grow and distribute psilocybin mushrooms, a controlled substance that acts as a hallucinogen. Vance maintained an online presence to sell the product and involved his children directly in the criminal activity.
His wife and the family friend have already pleaded guilty to their roles in the conspiracy and are awaiting sentencing. Vance was arrested in October 2024 after the search warrants were executed. He had previously been out on bond related to state charges.
Psilocybin mushrooms remain illegal under federal law, though some jurisdictions have moved to decriminalize or regulate their use for therapeutic purposes. In this case, prosecutors emphasized the large-scale cultivation and distribution operation combined with the involvement of minors.
Child Endangerment and Firearms
The case has drawn particular attention because of the direct involvement of Vance’s young children. Not only did he allegedly feed them psilocybin capsules daily, but he also used one of his sons to help sell the product to others.
The discovery of six firearms during the Bonsall search adds another serious element to the case. Federal prosecutors have not yet detailed how the firearms factor into potential sentencing enhancements.
What Happens Next
Vance is scheduled to be sentenced at a later date. His plea agreement resolves the federal charges against him, though it remains unclear whether he will face additional state-level consequences.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California has not released further details about the investigation or how authorities first became aware of the operation. The case highlights ongoing federal efforts to target large-scale drug trafficking operations, even those involving substances that are being explored for medical use in other contexts.
For now, the focus remains on the sentencing phase, where the full scope of Vance’s conduct — including the involvement of his children — will likely play a significant role in determining his punishment.
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