COUNTY POT GROWERS NAILED BY DEA

Seven Sonoma County men who were growing marijuana for medicinal use have
been arrested, charged or sentenced since the U.S. Drug
Enforcement Administration began targeting growers.

* Mike Foley, 36, Jenner: Grew marijuana at his home for his use. Arrested
in June of last year. Pleaded guilty in December to growing fewer than 100
plants. Sentencing set for March 19.

* Keith Alden, 53, Windsor: A jury found Alden guilty in February last year
of growing more than 700 plants and he was sentenced to probation. In a
subsequent case, a jury found Alden guilty in November of growing a
measurable amount and he was sentenced to more than 40 months in prison. He
is housed at the federal detention center in Dublin.

* Mark Whitney, 43, Santa Rosa: Grew marijuana in the basement of his home
for a cooperative with 10 members until the DEA shut it down following a
raid in March. Pleaded guilty in November to growing more than 400
marijuana plants. Sentencing set for March 19.

* Dan Nelson, 42, Santa Rosa: Grew marijuana at his home for his use.
Arrested when DEA agents raided and shut down the Aiko Compassion Center, a
Santa Rosa dispensary with 800 members, in May. Arrested on suspicion of
maintaining a place for growing marijuana.

Arraignment set for Feb. 27.

* Ed Bierling, 44, Santa Rosa: Grew marijuana at his home for him and his
wife. Arrested in connection with the Aiko raid on suspicion of maintaining
a place for growing marijuana. Arraignment set for Feb. 27.

* Robert Schmidt, 52, Petaluma: Grew marijuana as the owner of Genesis
1:29, a Petaluma dispensary with 1,300 members. Arrested when DEA agents
raided a ranch near Sebastopol where Schmidt grew the marijuana in
September. Charged with growing and possessing marijuana with intent to
distribute and assaulting a federal agent, which involved taking an
automatic rifle from an agent. No trial date has been set.

* Ken Hayes, 34, Petaluma: He is seeking asylum in Canada. Wanted in the
United States on marijuana trafficking and money laundering charges. DEA
agents raided a Petaluma ranch where Hayes grew marijuana for his use and
the Harm Reduction Center, a San Francisco dispensary, in February last
year. In the same case, a jury found Ed Rosenthal guilty of growing
marijuana and conspiracy to grow more than 100 plants. Rosenthal was
overseeing the growing operation under Oakland's medical marijuana ordinance.