FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 6, 2008
Contact: Casey McEnry
Number: 415-436-7994
Joshua Hedlund Convicted For Berkeley Marijuana Grow
Defendant Forfeits Land and Money and Consents to Searches of Thousands
of Acres of Land in Humboldt and Mendocino Counties
FEB 6 -- (OAKLAND, CA) - United States Attorney Joseph P. Russoniello and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Javier F. Peña announced that Joshua L. Hedlund, 31, pleaded guilty today to using a Berkeley warehouse for the manufacture of marijuana and to laundering the proceeds of that illegal marijuana grow. This guilty plea is the result of a two year investigation by the Berkeley Police Department; the Drug Enforcement Administration; and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation.
In pleading guilty, Mr. Hedlund admitted that between the late spring and early summer of 2003 through March 2006, he knowingly allowed others to grow marijuana at a warehouse located at 807 and 809 Allston Way in Berkeley, California. The defendant agreed that the United States would be able to prove that 2700 plants were grown at this address. He also admitted to using the proceeds of the marijuana grown at the Allston Way warehouse to pay his mortgage on the warehouse.
As part of the plea agreement, Hedlund agreed to forfeit more than $1,000,000 in proceeds from the Berkeley grow and money he received from others for the purchase of properties in Humboldt, Marin, Mendocino, and Trinity counties.
Mr. Hedlund also agreed to forfeit his right to more than 7000 acres in Humboldt and Trinity counties that Hedlund purchased from the Eel River Saw Mill in the name of Vilica LLC. In addition to forfeiting the Vilica LLC parcels, Hedlund agreed that federal, state, and local law enforcement and code enforcement officials may, at any time, conduct warrantless searches of the more than 5000 acres Hedlund controls throughout Humboldt and Mendocino counties in the name of Schmook Ranch LLC. The Berkeley Police Department began investigating the Allston Way grow in early 2006. Surveillance of that location led to the arrest of six other individuals, all of whom have pled guilty to charges related to the cultivation of marijuana at the Berkeley warehouse.
The sentencing of Mr. Hedlund is scheduled for May 16, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. before Judge D. Lowell Jensen in Oakland. The maximum statutory penalty for using a warehouse to cultivate marijuana in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 856(a)(1) is twenty years imprisonment and a fine of $500,000, plus restitution if appropriate. The maximum penalty for money laundering in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(1)(A)(I) is also twenty years imprisonment and a fine of $500,000, plus restitution if appropriate. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the United States Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.
H.H. (Shashi) Kewalramani and Keslie Stewart are the Assistant U.S. Attorneys who are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Cynthia Daniel, Noble Hughes, and Patty Lau.
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Showing posts with label Hedlund. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hedlund. Show all posts
2.05.2008
Oakland Trib on Hedlund/Vilica
Guilty plea in Berkeley pot operation
Man, 31, agrees to forfeit 7,000 acres By Angela Hill, STAFF WRITER 02/05/2008
OAKLAND — Joshua L. Hedlund, 31, pleaded guilty Monday in federal court in Oakland to using a Berkeley warehouse for a massive illegal marijuana grow and laundering the proceeds from that operation, the U.S. Attorney's office announced.
As part of the plea agreement, Hedlund agreed to forfeit more than $1 million in proceeds from the Berkeley grow and money he received from others for the purchase of properties in Humboldt, Marin, Mendocino and Trinity counties, authorities said.
Hedlund also agreed to forfeit his right to more than 7,000 acres in Humboldt and Trinity counties that he purchased from the Eel River Saw Mill in the name of Vilica LLC.
The guilty plea is the result of a two-year investigation by the Berkeley Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Internal Revenue Service's criminal investigation division.
Hedlund was arrested March 15, 2006, during a raid at a warehouse at 807 and 809 Allston Way in Berkeley, which netted 5,800 marijuana plants, a dozen weapons and $220,000 in cash. Investigators said it was the largest haul of marijuana Berkeley police had made in several years, and led to searches of homes in Oakland, Castro Valley, Antioch and Brentwood.
Berkeley police began investigating the Allston Way grow in early 2006. Surveillance of that location led to the arrest of six other individuals, all of whom have pleaded guilty to charges related to the cultivation of marijuana at the warehouse.
The IRS was called in to investigate the money laundering aspect of the case, said Special Agent Arlette Lee, of the IRS' criminal investigations section.
"Many people don't realize the IRS gets involved whenever there is a situation like this with money laundering," she said. "The Berkeley police and the DEA went after the illegal drugs. But we tracked the money, the proceeds from the sale, where it was coming from and where it was going."
In court Monday, Hedlund admitted he knowingly allowed others to grow marijuana at the warehouse between late spring of 2003 through March 2006. He also admitted to using the proceeds of the marijuana grown to pay his mortgage on the warehouse, authorities said.
In addition to forfeiting the Vilica LLC parcels, Hedlund agreed that law enforcement officials may at any time, without warrants, search more than 5,000 acres Hedlund controls throughout Humboldt and Mendocino counties in the name of Schmook Ranch LLC.
Hedlund is scheduled to be sentenced May 16 in Oakland, and could receive up to 20 years in jail and a fine of up to
$500,000 for using a warehouse to grow marijuana, plus an equal sentence for money laundering, authorities said.
**
No mention of Paradise Palms LLC. Nor what was going on on that Eel River SawMill acreage. No mention of Vilica LLC partner and president Steve Schectman...
Man, 31, agrees to forfeit 7,000 acres By Angela Hill, STAFF WRITER 02/05/2008
OAKLAND — Joshua L. Hedlund, 31, pleaded guilty Monday in federal court in Oakland to using a Berkeley warehouse for a massive illegal marijuana grow and laundering the proceeds from that operation, the U.S. Attorney's office announced.
As part of the plea agreement, Hedlund agreed to forfeit more than $1 million in proceeds from the Berkeley grow and money he received from others for the purchase of properties in Humboldt, Marin, Mendocino and Trinity counties, authorities said.
Hedlund also agreed to forfeit his right to more than 7,000 acres in Humboldt and Trinity counties that he purchased from the Eel River Saw Mill in the name of Vilica LLC.
The guilty plea is the result of a two-year investigation by the Berkeley Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Internal Revenue Service's criminal investigation division.
Hedlund was arrested March 15, 2006, during a raid at a warehouse at 807 and 809 Allston Way in Berkeley, which netted 5,800 marijuana plants, a dozen weapons and $220,000 in cash. Investigators said it was the largest haul of marijuana Berkeley police had made in several years, and led to searches of homes in Oakland, Castro Valley, Antioch and Brentwood.
Berkeley police began investigating the Allston Way grow in early 2006. Surveillance of that location led to the arrest of six other individuals, all of whom have pleaded guilty to charges related to the cultivation of marijuana at the warehouse.
The IRS was called in to investigate the money laundering aspect of the case, said Special Agent Arlette Lee, of the IRS' criminal investigations section.
"Many people don't realize the IRS gets involved whenever there is a situation like this with money laundering," she said. "The Berkeley police and the DEA went after the illegal drugs. But we tracked the money, the proceeds from the sale, where it was coming from and where it was going."
In court Monday, Hedlund admitted he knowingly allowed others to grow marijuana at the warehouse between late spring of 2003 through March 2006. He also admitted to using the proceeds of the marijuana grown to pay his mortgage on the warehouse, authorities said.
In addition to forfeiting the Vilica LLC parcels, Hedlund agreed that law enforcement officials may at any time, without warrants, search more than 5,000 acres Hedlund controls throughout Humboldt and Mendocino counties in the name of Schmook Ranch LLC.
Hedlund is scheduled to be sentenced May 16 in Oakland, and could receive up to 20 years in jail and a fine of up to
$500,000 for using a warehouse to grow marijuana, plus an equal sentence for money laundering, authorities said.
**
No mention of Paradise Palms LLC. Nor what was going on on that Eel River SawMill acreage. No mention of Vilica LLC partner and president Steve Schectman...
Man pleads guilty to running massive pot operation in Berkeley
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.
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.