Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
A third man was sentenced in federal court for his role in an illegal marijuana dispensary in Bozeman.
At a hearing in U.S. District Court in Missoula on Thursday morning, Michael James Mason, 34, was sentenced to three years probation after pleading guilty to money laundering in connection with Montana Buds, a medical marijuana dispensary based in Bozeman.
Mason pleaded guilty to the charge as part of an agreement in which the U.S. Attorney's Office dismissed additional charges of conspiracy to manufacture and distribute marijuana and possession with intent to distribute marijuana.
Earlier this summer, Montana Buds owner Chartlon Campbell was sentenced to 18 months prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to manufacture and distribute marijuana. He was also ordered to forfeit $30,000 and the Montana Buds properties in Bozeman.
And in February, David Maples received three years probation after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute marijuana.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office:
Around 2008 or 2009, Campbell, a convicted felon, began operating the medical marijuana dispensary Montana Buds, located on Zoot Way in Four Corners. In 2011, Montana amended its medical marijuana laws, prohibiting convicted felons from being providers.
Campbell recruited Mason, who knew of Campbell's felony conviction, to act as distributor for Montana Buds.
Over time, people from different towns in Montana joined the operation. Mason worked as the manager of the Bozeman dispensary.
In October 2015, the Drug Enforcement Administration began investigating Montana Buds. That investigation accelerated in early 2016 as agents heard reports that a member of the business had unlawfully transported marijuana from Montana to other states and that the same person illegally imported concentrated THC from California to Montana.
In March and May 2016, a confidential source illegally purchased a quarter pound of marijuana from the Bozeman dispensary.
In May 2016, the DEA served search warrants on the Montana Buds facilities in Bozeman. They discovered an extensive indoor marijuana grow operation that contained 1,543 marijuana plants, approximately 374 pounds of processed marijuana and about 44 pounds of marijuana or hash oil edibles.
There was also a large, highly sophisticated butane hash oil lab.
And during a search of Maples' apartment, also located on the Zoot Way complex owned by Campbell, agents seized marijuana edibles, tinctures, candies, laboratory equipment and approximately 479 pounds of marijuana products.
Agents also seized about 123 pounds of processed marijuana and $19,369 in cash.
A grand jury later indicted Mason, Campbell and Maples on federal drug trafficking charges.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Third Bozeman marijuana dispensary employee sentenced on federal charge | Crime and Courts | bozemandailychronicle.com
Author: Whitney Bermes
Contact: Contact Us | bozemandailychronicle.com
Photo Credit: Adrian Sanchez-Gonzalez
Website: bozemandailychronicle.com | Empowering the community
At a hearing in U.S. District Court in Missoula on Thursday morning, Michael James Mason, 34, was sentenced to three years probation after pleading guilty to money laundering in connection with Montana Buds, a medical marijuana dispensary based in Bozeman.
Mason pleaded guilty to the charge as part of an agreement in which the U.S. Attorney's Office dismissed additional charges of conspiracy to manufacture and distribute marijuana and possession with intent to distribute marijuana.
Earlier this summer, Montana Buds owner Chartlon Campbell was sentenced to 18 months prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to manufacture and distribute marijuana. He was also ordered to forfeit $30,000 and the Montana Buds properties in Bozeman.
And in February, David Maples received three years probation after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute marijuana.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office:
Around 2008 or 2009, Campbell, a convicted felon, began operating the medical marijuana dispensary Montana Buds, located on Zoot Way in Four Corners. In 2011, Montana amended its medical marijuana laws, prohibiting convicted felons from being providers.
Campbell recruited Mason, who knew of Campbell's felony conviction, to act as distributor for Montana Buds.
Over time, people from different towns in Montana joined the operation. Mason worked as the manager of the Bozeman dispensary.
In October 2015, the Drug Enforcement Administration began investigating Montana Buds. That investigation accelerated in early 2016 as agents heard reports that a member of the business had unlawfully transported marijuana from Montana to other states and that the same person illegally imported concentrated THC from California to Montana.
In March and May 2016, a confidential source illegally purchased a quarter pound of marijuana from the Bozeman dispensary.
In May 2016, the DEA served search warrants on the Montana Buds facilities in Bozeman. They discovered an extensive indoor marijuana grow operation that contained 1,543 marijuana plants, approximately 374 pounds of processed marijuana and about 44 pounds of marijuana or hash oil edibles.
There was also a large, highly sophisticated butane hash oil lab.
And during a search of Maples' apartment, also located on the Zoot Way complex owned by Campbell, agents seized marijuana edibles, tinctures, candies, laboratory equipment and approximately 479 pounds of marijuana products.
Agents also seized about 123 pounds of processed marijuana and $19,369 in cash.
A grand jury later indicted Mason, Campbell and Maples on federal drug trafficking charges.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Third Bozeman marijuana dispensary employee sentenced on federal charge | Crime and Courts | bozemandailychronicle.com
Author: Whitney Bermes
Contact: Contact Us | bozemandailychronicle.com
Photo Credit: Adrian Sanchez-Gonzalez
Website: bozemandailychronicle.com | Empowering the community
