Man pleas guilty to running massive pot operation in Berkeley http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_8173607
The Associated Press
Article Launched: 02/05/2008 06:41:33 AM PST
OAKLAND, Calif.—A 31-year-old man has pleaded guilty to running a massive marijuana growing operation in a Berkeley warehouse and laundering the proceeds.
The U.S. Attorney's office says Joshua Hedlund's plea Monday in federal court in Oakland is the result of a two-year investigation.
As part of a plea agreement with prosecutors, Hedlund agreed to give up more than $1 million in marijuana proceeds as well as more than 7,000 acres he purchased in Humboldt and Trinity counties.
Hedlund was arrested during a March 2006 raid that netted 5,800 marijuana plants, a dozen weapons and $220,000 in cash. It was one of Berkeley's biggest pot busts in years.
Hedlund could be sentenced to up to 20 years in jail and fined up to $500,000 at his sentencing in May.
