SAN FRANCISCO SHERIFF'S BROTHER-IN-LAW SHOULD HAVE RESTRICTED HIS ACTIVITIES IN THE JAIL TO MAINTAINING THE PLUMBING

Sheriff's brother-in-law accused of growing weed at jail where he worked as a plumber

 

By Rachel Bowman 

 

Daily Mail

Oct 10, 2025

 

 

San Francisco Sheriff Paul Miyamoto's (pictured) brother-in-law was criminally charged with growing and smoking weed inside the county jail where he worked as a plumber

 

The San Francisco Sheriff's brother-in-law was criminally charged with growing and smoking weed inside the county jail where he worked, court records show.  

Sheriff Paul Miyamoto wife's brother, Juel Perez De Leon, had worked as a plumber in the jail system the sheriff oversees since 1999, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

In 2022, two years after Miyamoto took office, another plumber reported finding De Leon smoking a pipe of cannabis in a maintenance area at San Francisco's County Jail Number Three, according to a copy of the incident report obtained by the outlet. 

The colleague reported telling De Leon 'not to be smoking marijuana at work' and De Leon allegedly replied, 'I'm a bad boy.'

De Leon had been in the maintenance shop for three hours and was smoking every time his fellow plumber walked in, according to the report.

Miyamoto's brother-in-law was also accused of driving off the jail grounds in a city vehicle to buy lunch.

A further investigation found that the jail's facilities manager 'heard rumors that De Leon may be growing marijuana plants in a locker in the maintenance area.'

'[The manager] elaborated that there were reports of grow lights and starter plants being transplanted in other areas of the facility,' the report said, adding that there were 'rumors that De Leon may be cultivating marijuana in a locker on jail grounds.'

 

Miyamoto wife's brother, Juel Perez De Leon, had worked as a plumber in the jail system the sheriff oversees since 1999. Pictured: Miyamoto and his wife LeeAnn DeLeon- Miyamoto

 

De Leon was charged with two misdemeanor burglary charges for allegedly entering the jail 'with the intent to commit larceny or any felony,' and one count of planting, harvesting or processing not more than six living marijuana plants.

He pleaded no contest to the marijuana charge and the burglary charges were dropped as part of a plea deal.

A spokesperson for the sheriff's department told the Chronicle that Miyamoto was not involved in the investigation into De Leon, but took action to fire him 'once presented with the information.'

'Because of the familial relationship of this former employee to the sheriff, Sheriff Miyamoto was not involved in the investigation nor determination of violation,' the spokesperson said.

'But once presented with the information, he immediately took action to terminate the employee, his brother-in-law.' 

De Leon denied growing the weed plants in the jail and told the newspaper: 'It was a misunderstanding.'

De Leon's lawyer, Ace Lipton, said his client was a medical marijuana smoker and the familial ties 'did not enter into the case.'

'I don't think these were giant marijuana plants or anything,' Lipton said. 'I think these were tiny little marijuana plants that he was accused of growing in his locker.'

 

Another plumber reported finding De Leon smoking a pipe of cannabis in a maintenance area at San Francisco's County Jail Number Three (pictured) in 2022

The sheriff's office said Miyamoto was not involved in the investigation into De Leon, but took action to fire him 'once presented with the information'

 

The revelation about Miyamoto's brother-in-law comes just days after the Chronicle reported that he helped a friend who lied to the FBI to get hired by the sheriff's department.

Records obtained by the outlet showed the department rehired Sergeant Michael Kim, despite being convicted for contempt of court in 2018.

Kim admitted to lying to the FBI during an investigation into Chinatown gangster Raymond 'Shrimp Boy' Chow.

Despite his conviction, Miyamoto wrote Kim a letter of recommendation praising his 'characteristics of leadership, experience and personality.'