News Release [print friendly page]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 6, 2009
Contact: Rich Isaacson
Number: (313) 234-4310

NOV 06 -- BOWLING GREEN, KY - United States Attorney Candace G. Hill of the Western District of Kentucky announced today that thirteen defendants previously charged in a large multi-state marijuana conspiracy were sentenced on November 2 nd and 3 rd, 2009, by United States District Judge Thomas B. Russell, in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The case involved the shipment of more than 5,000 pounds of marijuana from Arizona into Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan and Massachusetts.

Ralph Michael Hughes, age 39, of Kings Mountain, Kentucky was sentenced to 7 years imprisonment and 5 years supervised release. Charles David Bradford, age 54, of Williamsburg, Ohio was sentenced to 6 years imprisonment and 5 years supervised release. Mark Desmarais, age 42, of Douglas, Massachusetts was sentenced to 3 years and 10 months imprisonment and 3 years supervised release. Elda Kaye Sepulveda-Figueroa, age 32, of Phoenix, Arizona was sentenced to 3 years and 6 months imprisonment and 3 years supervised release. Taya Busik Sedam, age 51, of Evergreen, Colorado was sentenced to 2 years and 3 months imprisonment and 2 years supervised release. Shawn Laughing White Squirrel, age 54, of Tucson, Arizona was sentenced to 2 years and 3 months imprisonment and 2 years supervised release. Lloyd Gregory Haines, age 58, of Colorado Springs, Colorado was sentenced to 2 years and 3 months imprisonment and 2 years supervised release. Jamie Cragwall, age 38, of Loveland, Ohio was sentenced to 1 year and 6 months imprisonment and 2 years supervised release. Michael Robert Kunz, age 42, of Cincinnati, Ohio was sentenced to 1 year and 6 months imprisonment and 2 years supervised release. Rosa Bringas, age 42, of Tucson, Arizona, a defendant who had been detained pending trial, was sentenced to time served (approximately 1 year and 6 months) and supervised release for 2 years. Wayne Jeffrey Robertson, age 46, of Cincinnati, Ohio was sentenced to 1 year and 3 months imprisonment and 2 years supervised release. Rodney Joe Mason, Jr., age 29, of Loveland, Ohio was sentenced to 1 year and 3 months imprisonment and 2 years supervised release. Connie Hendren, age 55, of Goshen, Ohio was sentenced to 1 day imprisonment and 2 years supervised release.

Three additional defendants, Jesus Bringas and Victor Braun, both of Tucson, Arizona and Robert “Fritz” Sheene of Yosemite, Kentucky, have pled guilty, but are not scheduled for sentencing until January 19, 2010. The remaining defendant, Jorge “George” Molina remains a fugitive and has not been brought to answer the charges against him.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John E. Kuhn, Jr. and was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Kentucky State Police and local Massachusetts police agencies.