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Two men accused of being part of a medical marijuana operation allegedly run by former Montana Grizzlies quarterback Jason Washington pleaded guilty to federal drug charges on Wednesday.
Chris Cronshaw and Greg Zuckert each pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to a single charge of conspiracy to manufacture marijuana. The two are among several people who allegedly were part of a drug-trafficking ring run by Washington, who started five games for the Grizzlies in 2005.
Conspiracy to manufacture marijuana carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison — with a maximum of 40 years — along with a fine of up to $2 million and at least four years' supervised release.
Another man indicted in the case, Jesse Shewalter, plans to plead guilty to a charge of distribution of marijuana, according to the Associated Press.
An affidavit from Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent Vince Sanchez termed the "Washington drug trafficking organization ... a primary manufacturer/distributor of marijuana in Missoula."
Washington, who was kicked off the team in 2007 for unspecified reasons, ran an auto-customizing shop, along with a medical marijuana business called Big Sky Health.
At Zuckert's hearing Wednesday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara Elliott said federal agents recovered 1,001 marijuana plants from a greenhouse on Highway 10 West in Missoula last year. Washington's grow operation known as "The Wye" could produce up to 30 pounds of marijuana each month, according to federal agents.
That raid was part of a series of federal actions at medical marijuana businesses around Montana last year.
The raids — and subsequent federal prosecutions — chilled a once-booming medical marijuana industry that formed after a 2004 voter initiative legalized the medical use of cannabis.
Many of those arrested cried foul, protesting that their businesses operated legally under state law. But marijuana remains a controlled substance under federal law.
On Wednesday, Zuckert, 45, of Whitefish, told U.S. District Court Judge Dana Christensen that he worked as a consultant in the medical marijuana industry. Elliott said Washington paid Zuckert $3,000 a month to inspect his plants.
Now, Zuckert told the judge, he mows lawns for a landscaping company called First Class Grass.
News Hawk- Astonr420 420 MAGAZINE
Source: missoulian.com
Author: Gwen Florio
Contact: missoulian.com | Contact Us
Website: 2 men connected to Jason Washington plead guilty to federal pot charges
Chris Cronshaw and Greg Zuckert each pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to a single charge of conspiracy to manufacture marijuana. The two are among several people who allegedly were part of a drug-trafficking ring run by Washington, who started five games for the Grizzlies in 2005.
Conspiracy to manufacture marijuana carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison — with a maximum of 40 years — along with a fine of up to $2 million and at least four years' supervised release.
Another man indicted in the case, Jesse Shewalter, plans to plead guilty to a charge of distribution of marijuana, according to the Associated Press.
An affidavit from Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent Vince Sanchez termed the "Washington drug trafficking organization ... a primary manufacturer/distributor of marijuana in Missoula."
Washington, who was kicked off the team in 2007 for unspecified reasons, ran an auto-customizing shop, along with a medical marijuana business called Big Sky Health.
At Zuckert's hearing Wednesday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Tara Elliott said federal agents recovered 1,001 marijuana plants from a greenhouse on Highway 10 West in Missoula last year. Washington's grow operation known as "The Wye" could produce up to 30 pounds of marijuana each month, according to federal agents.
That raid was part of a series of federal actions at medical marijuana businesses around Montana last year.
The raids — and subsequent federal prosecutions — chilled a once-booming medical marijuana industry that formed after a 2004 voter initiative legalized the medical use of cannabis.
Many of those arrested cried foul, protesting that their businesses operated legally under state law. But marijuana remains a controlled substance under federal law.
On Wednesday, Zuckert, 45, of Whitefish, told U.S. District Court Judge Dana Christensen that he worked as a consultant in the medical marijuana industry. Elliott said Washington paid Zuckert $3,000 a month to inspect his plants.
Now, Zuckert told the judge, he mows lawns for a landscaping company called First Class Grass.
News Hawk- Astonr420 420 MAGAZINE
Source: missoulian.com
Author: Gwen Florio
Contact: missoulian.com | Contact Us
Website: 2 men connected to Jason Washington plead guilty to federal pot charges
