A San Diego County father has pleaded guilty in federal court after admitting that he gave hallucinogenic mushrooms to his young children and involved them in a psilocybin mushroom operation.
Randal Vance, 43, of Fallbrook, California, pleaded guilty to multiple federal drug charges connected to a conspiracy to produce and distribute psilocybin mushrooms in North County San Diego. Federal prosecutors said the operation used locations in Fallbrook and Bonsall to grow, process, package, and sell the mushrooms.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California, Vance admitted that his sons were 9 and 11 years old when the conspiracy began. Prosecutors said he later provided psilocybin capsules to the children and eventually gave capsules to his oldest son, who was 12 at the time, to sell to friends.
Psilocybin is the hallucinogenic compound found in so-called “magic mushrooms.” It remains a controlled substance under federal law. Prosecutors said Vance sold dried mushrooms, freeze-dried mushrooms, chocolates containing psilocybin, and capsules containing pure psilocybin through websites and an Instagram account.
The case became especially disturbing because of the allegations involving minors. In his plea agreement, Vance admitted that beginning around October 2023, he gave psilocybin capsules to his two young sons every other day. Federal prosecutors said the dosing increased to every day by 2024.
Vance also admitted that his wife, Rebecca Vance, helped distribute the drug to others. Rebecca Vance and another co-defendant, Keir Ceballos-Rivera, previously pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
Law enforcement searched the Fallbrook and Bonsall locations on October 4, 2024. At the Fallbrook property, authorities found approximately 204 pounds of fresh psilocybin mushrooms, 53 pounds of dried psilocybin mushrooms, growing materials, and equipment used to produce and process the mushrooms.
At the Bonsall location, investigators found about 25 pounds of dried mushrooms and five pounds of psilocybin capsules. Authorities also seized six firearms from the property. Prosecutors said some of the firearms were not locked up and that loaded magazines were found nearby.
Vance was arrested on the same day as the searches. Prosecutors said that after his local arrest, Vance and his co-defendants tried to destroy evidence by deleting phone messages and removing websites used to sell psilocybin products.
He pleaded guilty to charges 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.
The case has raised serious concerns about child safety, drug distribution, online drug marketing, and the use of minors in illegal operations. Federal prosecutors described Vance as the leader of the conspiracy and said his children were used in both production and distribution activity.
A defense attorney for Vance told Courthouse News that the government’s description was exaggerated and said the children were given very small amounts. The attorney also said the children are now living with their grandmother and are doing well. Those claims are part of the defense’s position and do not change the guilty plea entered in federal court.
Vance is scheduled to be sentenced on September 18 before U.S. District Judge Robert S. Huie. Some of the charges carry serious penalties, including mandatory minimum prison terms and maximum sentences of up to 40 years.
Rebecca Vance is scheduled for sentencing on July 17, while Keir Ceballos-Rivera is scheduled for sentencing on August 28.
The case remains one of the more unusual federal drug prosecutions in Southern California because it combines illegal psilocybin production, online sales, alleged use of children in distribution, and admitted drug exposure involving minors.
Federal authorities said anyone concerned that a child may have been exposed to illegal drugs connected to the case should contact the DEA.
