 |
Department of Justice United States Attorney David L. Huber Contact: Sandy Focken |
Return to the Press Release Index
April 22, 2008
MULTI-STATE MARIJUANA DISTRIBUTION RING INDICTED
– U.S. seeks forfeiture of $335,000 cash and two properties
– $3 million in marijuana
– Fourteen defendants from Kentucky, Arizona, Colorado, Ohio and Oklahoma
BOWLING GREEN, KY - A federal grand jury in Bowling Green, returned a superseding indictment on April 9, 2008, against Ralph Michael Hughes, age 37, Kings Mountain, Kentucky; Robert Sheene a/k/a Fritz Sheene, age 46, Liberty, Kentucky; Jesus Bringas, age 35, Tucson, Arizona; Victor Braun, age 33, Tucson, Arizona; Charles Bradford, age 53, Williamsburg, Ohio; Rodney Mason, age 36, Cincinnati, Ohio, Jamie Cragwall, age 52, Loveland, Ohio; Wayne Robertson, age 44, Elmwood Place, Ohio; Shawn Laughing White Squirrel, age 52, Marble City, Oklahoma; Taya Busik Sedam, age 59, Evergreen, Colorado; Michael Kunz, age 41, Elmwood, Ohio; Rosa Bringas, age 41, Tucson, Arizona; Lloyd Gregory Haines, age 57, Colorado Springs, Colorado and Connie Hendren, age 53, Goshen, Ohio, on charges of conspiracy to distribute marijuana, U.S. Attorney David L. Huber of the Western District of Kentucky announced today.
The Indictment alleges that between February 2005 through on or about July 2007, Ralph Michael Hughes, Robert Sheene a/k/a Fritz Sheene, Jesus Bringas, Victor Braun, Charles Bradford, Rodney Mason, Jamie Cragwall, Wayne Robertson, Shawn Laughing White Squirrel, Taya Busik Sedam, Michael Kunz, Rosa Bringas, Lloyd Gregory Haines, and Connie Hendren knowingly and intentionally conspired together to distribute 1,000 kilograms or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of marijuana. The Indictment does not specify the exact amount of marijuana involved, but the street value of 1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds) is in excess of three million dollars. The Indictment also seeks forfeiture of nearly $335,000 in currency and two tracts of real estate.
In the event of a conviction, the maximum potential penalty is life imprisonment, a $4,000,000 fine, and supervised release for a period of 5 years; and the minimum potential penalties are 10 years imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John E. Kuhn, Jr., and it was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
All of the defendants are scheduled to appear for arraignment before the United States Magistrate Judge on April 23, 2008, at 10:00 a.m., in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
* * *
The indictment of a person by a Grand Jury is an accusation
only and that person is presumed innocent until and unless
proven guilty.
#####
Return to the Press Release Index