Alleged Marijuana Distributor Arrested : Narcotics: Authorities say he is key distributor with ties to high-tech underground pot farms found in the Antelope Valley and Arizona.

Sheriff’s narcotics investigators have arrested an alleged San Fernando Valley marijuana distributor they say is linked to an elaborate network that set up sophisticated underground pot farms in the Antelope Valley and Arizona, authorities said Monday.

Michael Kumar, 31, allegedly sold more than $1 million a year worth of marijuana supplied by the operators of the Antelope Valley and Arizona farms, 14 of whom were indicted on federal charges in Phoenix last week, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Stephen L. Cooley.

Kumar was not among those indicted but was expected to be charged today by county prosecutors with conspiracy to sell marijuana and possession of marijuana for sale. He was arrested Friday at a Castaic motel after attempting to buy 30 pounds of marijuana in a fake drug deal set up by investigators, authorities said.

Sheriff’s investigators have “taken a major dealer off the street,” Cooley said. “He appeared to be operating in the seven figures on an annual basis.”

Deputies also arrested Gabriel Alfred, 29, of South Los Angeles, and Elizabeth Haskell, 26, who was described as Kumar’s girlfriend. Alfred and Haskell are expected to be charged with conspiracy to sell marijuana, Cooley said.

All three were being held at the Antelope Valley sheriff’s station on $1 million bail each, with arraignments expected Tuesday.

The charges come as part of a continuing investigation by federal and local authorities into the high-tech farms and their alleged operators, a group of construction contractors who investigators say produced millions of dollars worth of marijuana sold in California and other states. The investigation so far has turned up four such farms, two more alleged farms under construction, and $77 million worth of marijuana plants.

Sheriff’s deputies identified Kumar last week as a high-volume distributor, placed him under surveillance and set up the phony sale, said Capt. Larry Waldie, commander of the sheriff’s narcotics bureau.

Although Kumar was apprehensive because of the well-publicized series of raids and arrests over the past month, he agreed to buy the marijuana for $105,000 at the Castaic motel, authorities said. He was arrested about 6 p.m. by deputies, who then arrested Alfred and Haskell at a nearby restaurant. Alfred allegedly was going to deliver money to Kumar to make the payment when the deal was concluded, Waldie said. The money was found in a bag in Alfred’s car, Waldie said.