San Rafael, CA – A man suspected of manufacturing and distributing methamphetamine in Marin County was arrested on March 27, following a large-scale operation by the Marin County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO). Authorities seized 14 firearms and uncovered a suspected methamphetamine lab while executing search warrants in San Rafael and Richmond.
The investigation began in February, when detectives from the Marin County Specialized Investigative Unit (SIU) identified Jesse James Starr, a parolee with a criminal history, as a suspect. Starr had been released from prison in 2023 after serving nearly a decade for methamphetamine distribution and a high-speed chase in 2013.
As part of the investigation, SIU detectives conducted a probation search at Starr’s residence in San Rafael and a storage facility in Richmond. During the search, detectives recovered a significant amount of evidence, including 14 firearms—among them assault rifles, stolen guns, and firearms believed to have been homemade. Additionally, they found around 1 pound of methamphetamine, 18 grams of fentanyl, 12 grams of suspected ketamine, 2 grams of heroin, and components of a suspected meth lab.
Starr was arrested on federal probation violations and is now facing 10 felony charges. He has been booked into the Marin County Jail and is being held on a $1 million bail.
