Medical marijuana growers plead guilty in federal court
Three Kalispell men arrested at a medical marijuana business in Columbia Falls in 2011 have pleaded guilty in federal district court. A fourth man has pleaded not guilty. Two of the men had residences in Whitefish at the time of the alleged crimes.
The men were arrested March 14, 2011, after Homeland Security Investigations personnel raided Four Seasons Gardening and Good Medicine Providers, on Jellison Road in Columbia Falls. Similar raids by Homeland Security and other federal agencies took place at medical marijuana providers in Helena, Bozeman and Belgrade on the same day.
Aaron Durbin, 29, Justin Maddock, 40, and Trey Scales, 33, were initially charged with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute marijuana and possession with intent to distribute marijuana. They each faced from five to 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine if convicted.
According to court records, Durbin, Maddock, Scales and other unidentified individuals grew marijuana for Good Medicine Providers Inc. at several locations, including Reserve Drive in Kalispell, on U.S. 93 in Olney, and at the Jellison Road site. Durbin allegedly converted the Olney site into a significant marijuana growing operation and helped maintain the plants there and on Jellison Road.
Investigators allege that Scales had been distributing large quantities of marijuana to individuals both inside and outside Montana. A confidential informant was prepared to testify that Scales provided the informant with one pound of marijuana, and that Scales was seen providing 10 pounds of marijuana to another individual. The informant also alleged that Scales fronted five pounds of marijuana to the informant at Good Medicine in October 2010.
Drug agents also allege that four undercover marijuana purchases took place at Good Medicine between Dec. 22, 2010, and Jan. 12, 2011. They also allege that a search of Scales’ residence in Whitefish uncovered 43 marijuana plants.
Investigators allege Maddock operated a large marijuana growing operation on Reserve Drive. A second confidential informant was prepared to testify that marijuana transactions were observed at Maddock’s residence in Whitefish. Agents that searched both locations on March 14, 2011, uncovered more than 1,000 marijuana plants.
Durbin and Maddock pleaded guilty to conspiracy to manufacture marijuana in federal district court in Missoula on March 13. Scales pleaded guilty to the same charge on March 21. All three are scheduled for sentencing on June 22.
A fourth man pleaded guilty to federal drug charges on March 26, 2012. Christopher Durbin, 33, of Oregon and Whitefish, was charged with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute marijuana, possession and structuring, which is causing or attempting to cause a financial institution to fail to file a currency report.
According to the charging documents, Durbin owned Good Medicine Providers, Four Seasons Gardening and Northern Lights Medical. The latter business helped individuals apply for a Montana medical marijuana card. A confidential informant was prepared to testify that Durbin allegedly traveled to New York on two occasions and picked up $50,000 in cash for medical marijuana that was delivered there.
Glacier Bank employees were ready to testify that Durbin deposited $71,900 in 16 cash deposits ranging from $4,000 to $6,000 in an attempt to avoid reporting obligations. Durbin faces from 5 years to 40 years in prison and a $2 million fine if convicted.