FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	CONTACT: Lauren Horwood
February 2, 2012	PHONE: (916) 554-2706
www.usdoj.gov/usao/cae	usacae.edcapress@usdoj.gov
Docket #:

            SACRAMENTO, Calif. — United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Anthony D. Williams announced that a federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging William Robert Barsanti, 26, of Junction City, with conspiring to cultivate marijuana and with cultivating marijuana.

            According to court documents, the Trinity County Sheriff’s Office served search warrants on three Trinity County properties owned by Barsanti. On August 5, 2011, at a property in the Barker Creek area of Hayfork, three people were arrested on state marijuana cultivation charges, and deputies seized 2,142 marijuana plants from 22 greenhouses. On August 16, 2011, at a property near the Felter Gulch area of Junction City, 485 marijuana plants were seized. On September 28, 2011, at 360 North Oak Avenue, Hayfork, deputies encountered Barsanti, who was detained as law enforcement conducted the search. As a result of this warrant, law enforcement seized 142 marijuana plants and approximately five pounds of processed marijuana. In total, law enforcement seized 2,769 marijuana plants and five pounds of processed marijuana.

            This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Trinity County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Daniel S. McConkie is prosecuting the case.

            If convicted, Barsanti faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison for the conspiracy charge and a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 40 years in prison for the cultivation charge. He also faces criminal forfeiture of his properties that he used to grow the marijuana. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

            The charges are only allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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