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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
Oct. 8, 2009
CALIFORNIA WOMAN SENTENCED FOR ROLE IN MARIJUANA TRAFFICKING CONSPIRACY
TOPEKA, KAN. – Faeth Hope Hamilton, 41, Moreno Valley, Calif., has been sentenced to 168 months in federal prison for her role in a marijuana trafficking organization that laundered millions of dollars in proceeds through record companies in Los Angeles, U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch said today.
In April 2008, Hamilton pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute marijuana. In her plea, she admitted she was part of a drug trafficking organization uncovered in December 2002 when investigators seized more than 500 pounds of marijuana from a chartered business jet that landed for refueling in Salina, Kan. The plane was flying from Los Angeles to Cleveland.
The leaders of the organization were co-defendants Troy Barker and Clive Hamilton, who distributed marijuana in Los Angeles and across the country. Proceeds from the sale of the drugs were laundered through two companies, Heartless Records and Individual Records in Los Angeles, both of which were represented as being in the business of recording and producing rap music, but actually generated little legitimate income.
Faeth Hamilton, who is the sister of Clive Hamilton and half-sister of Troy Barker, owned a company called Investor’s Link Financial Services and another called Infinity Real Estate. Her role in the drug organization was to handle drug proceeds and conduct fraudulent financial transactions on behalf of the conspirators. For instance, in June 2002 she brokered Clive Hamilton’s purchase of 23810 Canyon Vista Court in Diamond Bar, Calif., for $927,653. She produced fraudulent documents indicating Hamilton had legitimate wages that qualified him for a mortgage. Clive Hamilton used the proceeds of drug trafficking to make the purchase.
Other defendants in this case include:
Clive Anthony Hamilton, who was sentenced to 360 months in federal prison.
Troy Barker, who was sentenced to 168 months.
Dean Milton Dormer, who was sentenced to 151 month.
Brian Everton Diaz, who was sentenced to 54 months.
Melanie Nicole Adauto, who was sentenced to 32 months.
Sean A. Gayle, who is set for sentencing Nov. 9, 2009.
Welch commended the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Salina Police Department, Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Mattivi and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Maag for their work on the case
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