Bowling Green Man Guilty Of Growing Marijuana In Mammoth Cave National Park And Warren County

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - A Bowling Green, Kentucky man pleaded guilty today, in United States District Court to conspiracy to manufacture marijuana inside Mammoth Cave National Park and inside a residence located in Warren County, Kentucky announced David J. Hale, United States Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky.

Robert Williams, age 28, pleaded guilty to a four-count federal indictment admitting that between May 4, 2011, and continuing to on or about October 8, 2011, he and co-defendant Ryan Pitcock, of Bowling Green, knowingly and intentionally conspired and agreed together and with each other to manufacture less than 50 Kilograms of marijuana, a schedule I controlled substance inside Mammoth Cave National Park. Williams also admitted to manufacturing marijuana and mushrooms containing psilocin and psilocybin within their residence in Warren County.

According to the plea agreement, search warrants obtained by Kentucky State Police for Williams’ and Pitcock’s apartment in Warren County revealed an extensive marijuana growing operation, processed marijuana for distribution, mushrooms containing psilocin and psilocybin being grown and packaged for distribution, and several stun guns.

Pitcock pleaded guilty to the charges on August 21, 2012 and was sentenced by Chief Judge Joseph H. McKinley, Jr. to 12 months and one day in prison followed by a two year period of supervised release.

If convicted at trial, Williams faces a combined maximum term of 20 years in prison, a fine of $1,5000,000 and a two year period of supervised release.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Judd, and it was investigated by the National Park Service Rangers and the Kentucky State Police.