AG: COLORADO MARIJUANA LAW ATTRACTED OUT-OF-STATE DRUG RING

LONGMONT -- A major portion of the growth and storage operations of a
two-state marijuana distribution ring was based in Longmont, according
to a Denver Grand Jury indictment made public on Friday.

Nine people were indicted as part of the ring, including several
Longmont residents accused of trying to cover illegal marijuana growth
operations by using state-issued medical marijuana licenses.

According to the attorney general's office, the suspects moved to
Colorado from New Mexico to take advantage of medical marijuana laws
to cover their operation and used packets of photocopied patient
records to try to persuade law enforcement that their operation was
legitimate and that they served as "caregivers."

The investigation spanned from August through December, according to
the indictment.

Growing operations were found in Longmont, Erie, Denver, Westminster
and Fort Collins for distribution in Colorado and New Mexico,
according to the attorney general's office.

The Northern Colorado Drug Task Force worked with the attorney
general's office on the investigation, which resulted in the 21-count
indictment.

"This case counters the contention among marijuana advocates and some
public officials that a regulated medical marijuana system will
undercut the illicit market for marijuana," Attorney General John
Suthers said in a prepared statement.

According to the indictment, [name1 redacted], 34, of Westminster and
[name2 redacted], 28, of Longmont led a marijuana growth and
distribution operation that produced pounds of marijuana for illegal
sales in two states. Growth operations were tended in [name2 redacted] and
30-year-old [name3 redacted]'s home at [address redacted] in Longmont, in
[name1 redacted]'s home in Westminster, in 28-year-old [name4
redacted]'s home at
[address redacted] in Longmont, at 29-year-old [name5 redacted]'s home at
[address redacted] in Longmont, in 28-year-old [name6 redacted]'s home in
Erie, and in 44-year-old [name7 redacted]'s home in Fort Collins.

Police in December reportedly recovered 109 pounds of processed
marijuana awaiting distribution from a Longmont storage unit belonging
to the group.

According to the indictment, [name2 redacted] and [name1 redacted]
worked with [name3 redacted],
[name6 redacted], [name5 redacted], [name4 redacted] and [name7
redacted] to distribute pounds of marijuana
in communities around Colorado. Working with [name8 redacted], 28, and
[name9 redacted], 29, the distribution reached into Albuquerque and other
communities in New Mexico.

The group is charged with violating the Colorado Organized Crime and
Control Act, conspiracy to distribute marijuana, marijuana
cultivation, and fraudulent use and theft of a marijuana registration
card.

The Jefferson County District Attorney's Office is leading prosecution
on the case.

The ring is the second major drug ring that has drawn grand injury
indictments in Longmont in the past year.

The Boulder County District Attorney's Office and Longmont Police
Department led an investigation with help from the Drug Enforcement
Agency to secure the indictment of dozens of people accused of roles
in a far-reaching cocaine and methamphetamine ring centered on
Longmont. That indictment included multiple accused high-level
suppliers, dealers, and user-dealers. Prosecutions are pending in
Boulder District Court.