A San Diego man has pleaded guilty to drugs charges in federal court, admitting he regularly dosed his two young children with psilocybin mushrooms and used them to help run a large-scale hallucinogenic mushroom operation across Southern California.
Randal Vance, whose exact age was not disclosed in court documents, entered the plea Friday before U.S. District Court Judge. He faces decades behind bars for the multiple charges outlined in the case.
Background
Prosecutors say Vance allegedly led a drug trafficking organization that cultivated, produced and distributed psilocybin mushrooms throughout the Fallbrook and Bonsall areas of San Diego County. The operation recruited children—including his own—into its narcotics activities.
Vance's wife, 42-year-old Rebecca Vance, and an associate identified as Keir Ceballos-Rivera served as his partners in the illegal enterprise, according to court documents. Together, they marketed their products through social media and multiple websites: psillyrabbit.com and psillyrabbitmushrooms.com.
The operation did not stop at selling raw mushrooms. Court records indicate the trio also produced psilocybin-infused chocolates and capsules for distribution, building what authorities describe as a sophisticated drug trafficking network targeting young people.
"This case represents one of the most egregious examples of child exploitation in connection with drug trafficking that federal prosecutors have encountered," said one prosecutor during proceedings. "These children were not merely present in the home—they were active participants in their father's criminal enterprise."
The Charges
Vance pleaded guilty to multiple counts including distribution of controlled substances to minors, exploiting minors in narcotics operations, and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, law enforcement officers executed search warrants on October 4, 2024, at two locations linked to Vance's operation—one on Ash Street and another on Lilac Road—both in Fallbrook and Bonsall areas.
At the Ash Street facility, investigators seized 204 pounds of fresh psilocybin mushrooms, 53 pounds of dried mushrooms, 18 pounds of inoculated substrate, and extensive processing equipment. The Lilac Road site yielded an additional 25 pounds of dried mushrooms, five pounds of capsules, and six unsecured firearms: a Glock 34, Walther P22, Henry Survival AR7, Browning 30-06, and two revolvers.
The drugs recovered had an estimated street value exceeding $200,000 at the time of the raids, according to the San Diego County Sheriff's Office, which assisted federal authorities in the investigation.
Court documents allege Vance provided psilocybin capsules to his older son to sell among his young acquaintances. The children, ages 9 and 11, were given mushrooms daily by their father to experience "altered states of consciousness," prosecutors stated.
Vance is facing up to 40 years imprisonment for exploiting minors in narcotics operations, another 40 years for distributing controlled substances to children, with additional decades possible for distribution charges and obstruction of justice. Sentencing has not yet been scheduled.
His wife Rebecca Vance and Keir Ceballos-Rivera are awaiting trial on related charges.
Key Takeaways
- Randal Vance pleaded guilty Friday in federal court to drugs charges including distributing controlled substances to minors
- His two children, ages 9 and 11, were allegedly given psilocybin mushrooms daily by their father
- The drug operation used the couple's children to help cultivate and distribute hallucinogenic mushrooms
- Investigators seized over 250 pounds of psilocybin mushrooms with an estimated street value exceeding $200,000
- Vance faces potential sentences totaling more than 80 years for exploiting minors and distributing drugs to children
- Two co-defendants—Vance's wife Rebecca Vance and Keir Ceballos-Rivera—are awaiting their own court proceedings
What's Next
Randal Vance awaits sentencing, which will be determined by the presiding judge after review of pre-sentence reports. His defense attorneys have not indicated whether they plan to request leniency based on cooperation or other factors.
Rebecca Vance and Keir Ceballos-Rivera remain in custody as their cases proceed through the federal court system. Authorities continue to investigate whether additional individuals were involved in the distribution network that marketed products through social media platforms and e-commerce websites.