Authorities in Shasta County began investigating an alleged illegal marijuana farm but ended up with a shocking discovery: a stash of illegal firearms and a secret underground house in a 100-foot tunnel on the property of a MAGA activist.
Michael Jay Kamfolt, 40, was arrested on January 20 after members of the California Highway Patrol found a basement and seized a large number of illegally-owned weapons – including three AR-15 rifles, a sawed-off shotgun and more than 10,000 rounds of ammunition – during a search warrant for him. He is no longer in custody, according to county records.
Among the weapons seized in Anderson, Calif., were a sawed-off shotgun, three AR-15 rifles, one with a serial number, and two guns reported stolen, one in 2016 and one in 1978.
(California Highway Patrol)
“This operation has gone beyond illegal growth,” CHP Northern Division Chief John Pinoli said in a statement. “The combination of the hidden basement and the shocking cache of illegal firearms and ammunition highlights the threat it poses to public safety.”
Kamfolt is a well-known civil rights activist who has been seen at protests and county Board of Supervisors meetings and has repeatedly expressed concerns about voter fraud, according to Shasta Scout reports. Shasta County has become a hotbed of hard-line governance and electoral denial in the Trump era of American politics, and a strong majority took control of the county board in 2022.
Kamfolt is a staunch advocate for Kevin Crye, the district manager and supporter of MAGA. Kamfolt described himself as Crye’s “good friend” who would “do anything to help him,” when he confronted protesters outside Crye’s business in May 2025, according to Shasta Scout.
Crye is a pro-Trump election opponent and survived a recall effort by 50 votes in March 2024. The effort was launched after leading a successful effort to have Dominion state voting machines in favor of hand-counting votes.
In a Facebook video posted a day after Kamfolt’s arrest, Crye said, “It just came to my attention today that a fan of mine and I’m going to say that a friend of mine was arrested last night, and I’m really heartbroken.”
Crye said the news surprised him but urged people “not to rush to judgement.” “Remember that we are innocent until proven guilty,” he said.
The CHP first received a tip in December about an illegal marijuana grow on Kamfolt’s property in Anderson, a small town about 10 miles south of Redding.
During a search of the Northern California area, officials discovered an underground residence that was not accessible through a 100-foot-long culvert.
(California Highway Patrol)
Police then obtained a search warrant and flew a plane to the area. They continued the investigation for a month before they searched Kamfolt’s place on December 20, when they found the dorm equipped with everything needed to grow marijuana including power, ventilation and a concrete floor with built-in drains.
Located under a 100-meter drainage pipe, the sprawling secret cave also contained a home gym, a recliner and a television. The wall decoration included the Bennington flag, which was among the various historical American flags carried by supporters of President Trump during the January 6 violence.
While at the scene, the police confiscated 13 guns, four soft vests and 30 high quality magazines. Two guns were reported stolen, one in 2016 and the other in 1978, according to the CHP.
Kamfolt was arrested on suspicion of assault and battery. It includes turning a gun into a machine gun, producing a ghost gun, possession of a stolen firearm and possession of live ammunition.
The CHP investigation is ongoing, and the case has not yet been forwarded to the Shasta County District Attorney’s office for review, according to a department spokeswoman.
Kamfolt was out of custody Monday, according to Shasta County records. The county Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on when he was released.
