Colorado Hydroponics Store Owner Charged With Marijuana Distribution

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The owner of a Front Range chain of hydroponics gardening stores has been charged in federal court with marijuana distribution and has indicated he intends to plead guilty.

Federal officials filed a charging document called an "information" on Monday against Corey Inniss, the owner of the Way to Grow chain of stores. The document alleges that Inniss distributed at least 10 kilograms – about 22 pounds – but less than 20 kilograms of marijuana.

Such a charging document is usually filed if both sides have already agreed to a plea deal. After entering a not guilty plea to the charge on Monday, Inniss the next day filed a document called a "notice of disposition," indicating he had reached a deal.

A hearing at which Inniss can change his plea is scheduled for June 28.

"Mr. Innis has agreed to accept full responsibility for his personal misconduct involving marijuana that occurred several years ago," Inniss's attorney, Jeralyn Merritt, wrote in an e-mail. "Way to Grow was not involved in his offense and no legal action will be brought against it. Way to Grow will continue to operate in full compliance with the law."

Federal officials have been investigating Inniss for years.

In two, separate civil cases, federal prosecutors are seeking to seize houses and money connected to a marijuana-growing ring the prosecutors allege is linked to Inniss. Filings in those cases allege that Inniss supplied lights and other growing equipment from his stores to set up marijuana-cultivation operations in homes from Boulder to Fort Collins.

In exchange for the equipment, the documents allege, Inniss received a cut of the operations' proceeds. Prosecutors accuse Inniss of then taking that money and putting it into bank accounts for Way to Grow. The documents state that in a 16-month period of 2005 and 2006, Inniss deposited $1.3 million in cash into Way to Grow accounts.

At least one person involved in the case claimed he was growing medical marijuana in compliance with state law.

Merritt said prosecutors will drop some of the forfeiture claims as a result of the plea deal.

Way to Grow has locations in Denver, Lakewood, Boulder and Fort Collins and is one of the largest hydroponics and indoor gardening stores in Colorado. It sells grow lights, cultivation and watering systems, fertilizers, ventilation parts and other indoor gardening supplies.

The chain is also not shy about promoting itself. On several occasions, Way to Grow has flown a banner reading "Light it up :)" over Denver sporting events.

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News Hawk- TruthSeekr420 420 MAGAZINE
Source: denverpost.com
Author: John Ingold
Contact: Contact Us - The Denver Post
Website: Colorado hydroponics store owner charged with marijuana distribution - The Denver Post
 
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