FALLBROOK — A Fallbrook man has pleaded guilty to multiple federal drug charges after admitting he gave hallucinogenic drugs to his two young sons and forced them to help cultivate and distribute psilocybin mushrooms, prosecutors said.
Randal Vance, 43, entered guilty pleas June 26 to multiple 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.
According to court records, Vance admitted to dosing his sons, ages 9 and 11, with psilocybin and having them help cultivate and distribute the mushrooms in the Fallbrook and Bonsall areas.
Authorities arrested Vance in October 2024 after executing search warrants at properties on Ash Street in Fallbrook and Lilac Road in Bonsall. Investigators recovered more than 250 pounds of illegal psychedelic substances, two rifles, four handguns and other controlled substances, including ecstasy and ketamine.
Prosecutors said Vance marketed the operation through the websites psillyrabbit.com and psillyrabbitmushrooms.com, as well as the Instagram account @psillyrabbitca.
Court documents describe Vance as the leader of the operation. His co-defendants, his wife, Rebecca Vance, 42, and Keir Ceballos-Rivera, 34, have also pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
According to Vance’s plea agreement, his sons began helping produce psilocybin mushrooms when they were 9 and 11 years old. Vance admitted to selling the mushrooms in freeze-dried form and in chocolate products containing psilocybin capsules. He also admitted directing his wife and one of his sons to distribute the products to customers.
Court records state Vance also administered psilocybin to his sons, eventually dosing them daily by 2024. Prosecutors have not publicly disclosed a motive.
Rebecca Vance is scheduled to be sentenced July 17, Ceballos-Rivera on Aug. 28 and Randal Vance on Sept. 18.
