Anderson man arrested after fortified underground bunker and large cache of illegal weapons found
Michael Jay Kamfolt, 40, was arrested Jan. 20, 2026, after CHP officers executing a warrant found a fortified underground bunker on a rural Anderson property containing a large cache of illegal firearms, body armor and about 10,000 rounds of ammunition.
- Search and seizure: A January 20, 2026 warrant led officers to a fortified underground bunker reached via a roughly 100-foot culvert.
- Large weapons haul: Officers seized 13 firearms, about 10,000 rounds (including armor-piercing), 30 high-capacity magazines and four soft-body armor vests.
- Charges: Kamfolt faces nearly a dozen weapons-related charges under California law, including assault-rifle and machine-gun counts.
The discovery
The California Highway Patrol’s Northern Division said a tip about suspected illegal marijuana cultivation reached its Canine Unit in December 2025. After an overflight by CHP Air Operations confirmed signs of cultivation, investigators conducted a month-long probe and obtained a search warrant. Officers executed that warrant on Jan. 20, 2026, uncovering a fortified underground bunker on a rural property in Anderson, California (see the CHP news release and reporting from Fox News).
Bunker description
CHP described the space as a “fortified underground bunker” accessed through a roughly 100-foot-long culvert. Inside, officers found:
- Hardened space with electricity and ventilation
- Concrete floor with built-in drainage
- Supplies consistent with indoor marijuana cultivation
- Infrastructure suggesting long-term use and concealment
Weapons, armor and ammunition seized
During the search, CHP seized:
- 13 firearms total, including a sawed-off shotgun and three AR-15–style rifles (one with an obliterated serial number). Two firearms were reported stolen in 1978 and 2016.
- About 10,000 rounds of ammunition, including armor-piercing rounds.
- 30 high-capacity magazines.
- Four soft-body armor vests.
Sources: CHP news release; Fox News.
“This operation went far beyond an illegal grow. The combination of a hidden bunker and an alarming cache of illegal firearms and ammunition highlights the threat posed to public safety.”
— CHP Northern Division Chief John Pinoli
Charges filed
Kamfolt was booked and faces nearly a dozen weapons-related charges under California law. The CHP listed alleged violations by Penal Code section:
- 30605(a) PC – Possession of an assault rifle
- 30600(a) PC – Manufacturing of an assault rifle
- 33215 PC – Manufacturing of a short-barreled rifle
- 32625(a) PC – Possession of a machine gun
- 32625(b) PC – Converting a firearm into a machine gun
- 23920 PC – Possession of an altered firearm serial number
- 24610 PC – Manufacturing and possession of an undetectable firearm
- 496(a) PC – Possession of a stolen firearm
- 29180(b) PC – Manufacturing of a “ghost gun”
- 30315 PC – Possession of armor-piercing ammunition
- 32310(c) PC – Possession of a high-capacity magazine
Those counts reflect the variety of weapons and modifications CHP said were found. Detectives are continuing the probe and following investigative leads (see CHP news release).
Investigation details and context
Authorities said the December 2025 tip prompted a cautious, methodical response. CHP Air Operations’ overflight showed signs of cultivation; investigators then secured a warrant and executed it on Jan. 20, 2026. Investigators noted the bunker’s infrastructure — electricity, ventilation and drainage — consistent with long-term use for concealment of both cultivation and weapons storage.
Officials stressed the scale of ammunition and the presence of armor-piercing rounds and high-capacity magazines as particularly alarming to public safety and to officers responding to the scene (see reporting from Fox News and the CHP news release).
Public reaction and cultural context
Public reaction varied after CHP’s announcement. Some social-media comments framed the bunker as a survivalist or prepper project — e.g., “Bros got an absolute dream prep setup” — while others focused on gratitude to officers for removing a dangerous stockpile. The case touches on broader debates about illegal firearms, remote cultivation and rural property use.
Legal, law-enforcement and national implications
Legal issues: The mix of illegal firearms, stolen guns, modified weapons and large ammunition quantities raises serious legal exposure under California’s stringent weapons statutes, particularly for allegations involving machine guns, obliterated serial numbers and armor-piercing rounds.
Law-enforcement impact: Underground bunkers and hidden grows complicate public-safety work and increase hazards for officers and neighbors. The presence of body armor and high-capacity magazines indicates an elevated risk of violent resistance.
Wider effects: Seizures remove weapons from potential illicit markets, but the episode may feed national debates on gun enforcement, spur calls for increased law-enforcement resources, and heighten local concerns about safety and rural crime.
Practical lessons
- Tips and aerial surveillance proved crucial to initiating the investigation.
- Coordinated, multi-unit responses (canine, air ops, detectives) are effective against concealed operations.
- Community reporting of suspicious activity can trigger investigations that prevent potential violence.
Ongoing investigation
CHP said detectives are still following leads. No additional arrests have been reported. Officials have not released where the weapons originated or whether they were intended for sale or personal stockpiling. Prosecutors will determine formal filings as evidence processing continues (see CHP news release and reporting from Fox News).
Source documents and reporting
Reporting by Times Media Service and local authorities provided the foundation for this account. Further updates will depend on prosecutorial filings and any additional releases from CHP and allied investigators.
