News Release [print-friendly version]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 23, 2008
Contact: Casey McEnry
Number: 415-436-7994

Former Proprietor of Roseville Marijuana Business Sentenced to 51 Months in Prison

JUL 23 --SACRAMENTO, Calif.—United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Javier F. Pena, announced that RICHARD MARINO, 54, formerly of New Castle, California, was sentenced yesterday by United States District Judge Lawrence K. Karlton to 51 months in prison. MARINO pleaded guilty to charges of narcotics conspiracy and money laundering on May 6, 2008.

This case is the product of an extensive joint investigation by the DEA and IRS Criminal Investigations Division.

According to Assistant United States Attorneys William Wong and Matthew Segal, who prosecuted the case, MARINO’s business, Capitol Compassionate Care (CCC), had the overt, nearly exclusive purpose of selling marijuana with gross sales amounting to $2,275,849 between February 3, 2004 and August 31, 2004.

On September 3, 2005, federal agents executed a search warrant on CCC and MARINO’s residence in Newcastle. As result agents seized approximately 3,022 grams of hashish, 18,805 grams of processed marijuana, 617 live marijuana plants (364 at CCC and 253 at the residence), and $105,000.

The agents seized CCC’s business records that showed that CCC sold about 482 pounds of marijuana under brand names such as “AK-47,” “Chernobyl,” “High Lander,” “Romulin,” and “Trainwreck.” Business records also show that MARINO caused CCC to pay over $150,000 towards dry cleaning, outside dining, apartment rental payments, a housekeeper, loan payments for a residence that was used to grow marijuana, a down payment for that residence, improvements to the residence, and payments on personal credit cards.

In separate civil forfeiture cases brought by Assistant United States Attorney Kristin S. Door, MARINO was also ordered to forfeit over $91,000 in seized U.S. currency and a house located in Newcastle. Sale of the house resulted in the forfeiture of $110,000 to the United States, for a total recovery from MARINO of over $201,000.

MARINO was remanded into custody immediately after the sentencing hearing to commence the service of his prison sentence. Following his release from prison, MARINO will be placed on federal supervised release for a period of 48 months. He was also sentenced to pay a fine of $2,500.     

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