Richmond Man Found Guilty of Possessing Firearms Related to Marijuana Grow Operation
RICHMOND, Va. – Harold A. Habeck II, 47, of Richmond, Va., was convicted today by a federal jury of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Ken Cuccinelli, Attorney General of Virginia, made the announcement after the verdict was accepted by United States District Judge John Gibney.
Habeck was indicted on May 1, 2012 on one count of possession with the intent to distribute 100 or more marijuana plants and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. On July 24, 2012, Habeck pled guilty to the marijuana charge. He faces a mandatory minimum of five years for each offense and a maximum penalty of life in prison when he is sentenced on October 22, 2012. The sentences must be imposed consecutively.
According to court records and evidence at trial, City of Richmond Police officers executed a search warrant of Habeck’s residence, located at 6937 Doulton Road, Richmond, Virginia. Inside the residence, police uncovered a significant marijuana growing operation containing 397 high-grade marijuana plants. Police also recovered marijuana packaged for distribution, multiple grow lights, power converters, fans, blowers, a semiautomatic pistol, a revolver, a shotgun and boxes of ammunition. The guns were loaded and strategically placed throughout the house. In order to protect his grow operation, Habeck also inserted 3 inch screws in each window and almost all of the doors to thwart anyone attempting to break into the house.
This case was investigated by the Richmond City Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Special Assistant United States Attorney and Assistant Attorney General Michael A. Jagels is prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.justice.gov/usao/vae. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia at http://www.vaed.uscourts.gov or on https://pcl.uscourts.gov.
