San Diego County Man Admits Dosing Sons With Hallucinogenic Mushrooms

SAN DIEGO, CA — A San Diego County man pleaded guilty to federal charges after admitting he dosed his children with hallucinogenic mushrooms and used them to help run a psilocybin operation.

Randal Vance, 43, of Fallbrook admitted leading a conspiracy to grow and distribute psilocybin mushrooms from properties in Fallbrook and Bonsall, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Southern District of California.

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According to his plea agreement, Vance began giving his sons, then 9 and 11, psilocybin capsules every other day in October 2023, increasing the doses to every day by 2024. He also admitted giving psilocybin capsules to his oldest son, then 12, to sell to friends, and providing the drug to his wife to distribute to others.

Authorities executed search warrants at the two properties in October 2024, where they they seized a total of 282 pounds of fresh and dried psilocybin mushrooms, growing supplies, processing equipment, about five pounds of psilocybin capsules and six firearms, according to prosecutors.

Prosecutors said Vance later conspired with his wife, Rebecca Vance, 42, and co-defendant Keir Ceballos-Rivera, 34, to destroy evidence by deleting phone messages and taking down websites used in the operation. Both co-defendants previously pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.

Vance pleaded guilty in federal court June 26 to multiple drug charges. He is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 18.