10 YEARS FOR MARIJUANA GROWER

LANSING, MICHIGAN A Michigan man who grew 10,849 marijuana plants on his
Leelanau County farm was sentenced Tuesday to 10 years in prison.

Authorities estimated they found $11 million worth of marijuana when they
raided Bradley Shugart's 150-acre farm last September. Prosecutors consider
the farm one of the largest drug operations ever discovered in northern
Michigan.

Shugart, 48, pleaded guilty in January to growing the marijuana. At his
sentencing Tuesday, he told U.S. District Court Judge David McKeague that
he began growing marijuana for himself but soon began selling the drug.

"What I thought was a harmless hobby at first got out of hand," said
Shugart. "When I look at what it's done to my family and our peaceful
community, I have enough regret for a lifetime."

McKeague had the option of sentencing Shugart to life in prison and fining
him up to $4 million. Instead, McKeague sentenced Shugart to 10 years and
fined him $2,000.

McKeague said the fine was low because Shugart already paid $100,000 as
part of an agreement preventing the federal government from seizing his
property. Some of Shugart's land has been in his family for more than 100
years.