Shasta County authorities began investigating a suspected illegal marijuana farm but ended up making an even more disturbing discovery: a large stash of illegal weapons and a secret underground bunker at the base of a 100-foot tunnel on a MAGA activist’s property.
Michael J. Comfort, 40, was arrested Jan. 20 after members of the California Highway Patrol discovered the bunker and seized three AR-15-style assault rifles, a sawed-off shotgun and more than 10,000 rounds of ammunition — illegal possessions — during a house search. He is no longer in custody, according to county records.
Among the weapons recovered in Anderson, Calif., were a sawed-off shotgun, three AR-15-style assault rifles, one with an obliterated serial number, and two weapons reported stolen, one in 2016 and the other in 1978. (California Highway Patrol)
“This operation went far beyond illegal growth,” CHP Northern Division Chief John Pinoli said in a statement. “The combination of hidden bunkers and dangerous caches of illegal arms and ammunition highlights the threat posed to public safety.”
Komfault is a well-known conservative activist who has shown up at protests and county board of supervisors meetings and has repeatedly raised concerns about voter fraud, according to Shasta Scout reports. Shasta County has become a center for hard-right governance and electoral abstentionism in the Trump era of American politics, and a staunchly conservative majority took control of the County Board in 2022.
Read more: This red California county is gripped by a far-right insurgency that braces for more trouble as the election approaches
Kampholt County Supervisor and MAGA supporter Kevin Crye is a strong advocate. According to Shasta Scout, in May 2025, when confronted by protesters outside of Cry’s business, Comfort described himself as Cry’s “good friend” who would “do anything to help him”.
Crye is a Trump campaign supporter and survived a recall effort in March 2024 by just 50 votes. The effort was launched after he led a successful effort to get the county ditch Dominion voting machines in favor of hand-counting ballots.
In a Facebook video posted the day after Comfolt’s arrest, Cry said, “It came to my attention today that a supporter and I would also like to say that a friend of mine was arrested last night, and my heart is truly broken.”
Cry said he was taken aback by the news but urged people “not to rush to judgement”. He said, ‘Let’s remember that we are innocent until proven guilty.
The CHP initially received a tip in December about suspected illegal marijuana growing on Comfolt’s property in Anderson, a small town about 10 miles south of Redding.
While searching the Northern California property, authorities discovered an underground bunker accessible through a 100-foot-long culvert. (California Highway Patrol)
Officers then obtained a search warrant and conducted a flight over the area. They continued the investigation for a month before searching Comfolt’s property on December 20, when they discovered a bunker equipped with all the supplies needed to grow marijuana, including power, ventilation and built-in drainage.
Located at the base of a 100-foot water drainage pipe, the sprawling secret cave also housed a home gym, armchairs and a television. Wall decorations included a Bennington flag, one of several historic American flags carried by supporters of President Trump during the Jan. 6 riots.
While at the property, officers seized 13 firearms, four soft body armor vests and 30 high-capacity magazines. Two guns were reported stolen, one in 2016 and the other in 1978, according to the CHP.
Comefault was arrested on suspicion of a series of felony and weapons-related violations. These include converting weapons into machine guns, making ghost guns, possessing stolen firearms, and possessing armor-piercing ammunition.
The CHP’s investigation is ongoing, and a case has not yet been submitted to the Shasta County District Attorney’s Office for filing, according to a department spokeswoman.
Kamfault was not in custody Monday, according to Shasta County inmate records. The county sheriff’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on his release.
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This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.
