A well-known conservative activist in Northern California was arrested last week after an investigation revealed a 100-foot-long tunnel connected to an underground bunker containing a cache of illegal weapons, ammunition and body armor.
In a news release, officials with the California Highway Patrol said an investigation was launched after the agency received a tip about a suspected illegal marijuana grow operation.
CHP Air Operations conducted a flyover of the property in Anderson, a city about 150 miles north of Sacramento in Shasta County, and confirmed the information received.
An investigation into the property, owned by Michael Jay Kamfolt, 40, lasted approximately a month before CHP executed a search warrant at the location on Jan. 20.
A well-known conservative activist in Northern California was arrested after a cache of illegal weapons and ammunition was found in a hidden bunker on his property on Jan. 20, 2026. (CHP)
“During the search, officers discovered an underground bunker accessible through a 100-foot-long culvert,” the release noted. “The bunker was equipped with power, ventilation, a concrete floor with built-in drainage and the necessary supplies to cultivate marijuana.”
Officers also recovered 13 firearms, including three AR-15 style assault rifles, one of which was a “ghost gun” without a serial number, a sawed-off shotgun and two firearms reported stolen, one in 2016 and the other in 1978.
In addition to the weapons, investigators located approximately 10,000 rounds of ammunition, including armor piercing rounds, 30 high-capacity magazines and four soft body armor vests.
In photos released by authorities, a television, armchair and a home gym can be seen in the sprawling bunker, along with various wall decorations that included a specific type of historical American flag.
A well-known conservative activist in Northern California was arrested after a cache of illegal weapons and ammunition was found in a hidden bunker on his property on Jan. 20, 2026. (CHP)
A well-known conservative activist in Northern California was arrested after a cache of illegal weapons and ammunition was found in a hidden bunker on his property on Jan. 20, 2026. (CHP)
A well-known conservative activist in Northern California was arrested after a cache of illegal weapons and ammunition was found in a hidden bunker on his property on Jan. 20, 2026. (CHP)
A well-known conservative activist in Northern California was arrested after a cache of illegal weapons and ammunition was found in a hidden bunker on his property on Jan. 20, 2026. (CHP)
Kamfolt, according to numerous media reports, is a prominent conservative activist in Shasta County who has repeatedly expressed concerns about voting fraud at county board of supervisors meetings.
He is also, according to reporting from the Los Angeles Times, a staunch advocate of Shasta County Supervisor Kevin Crye, who has been a vocal supporter of President Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement. Crye narrowly survived a 2024 recall effort by 50 votes.
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A day after Kamfolt’s arrest, Crye posted a video on Facebook seemingly addressing the incident but never naming Kamfolt.
“It came to my attention today that a supporter, and I’ll even say a friend of mine, was arrested last night. My heart is truly broken about the situation,” he said in part. “I would really encourage people not to rush to judgment. Remember, we are innocent until proven guilty.”
Kamfolt was arrested on suspicion of several misdemeanor and felony violations, including manufacturing a ghost gun, manufacturing an assault rifle, possession of a machine gun, converting a firearm into a machine gun and possession of armor penetrating ammunition.
“This operation went far beyond an illegal grow. The combination of a hidden bunker and an alarming cache of illegal weapons and ammunition highlights the threat posed to public safety,” CHP Northern Division Chief John Pinoli said. “I am proud of the tireless work of our Northern Division personnel that led to this arrest.”
Officials said that the investigation into Kamfolt remains ongoing while detectives continue to follow up on additional leads.
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