Judge Sentences Cambria County Man To Probation For Conspiring To Grow Marijuana

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - A resident of Hastings, Pa., has been sentenced in federal court to two years probation on his conviction of conspiracy to manufacture and possess marijuana plants, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson imposed the sentence on Donald J. Weakland, 58.

According to information presented to the court, in the spring of 2011, Weakland conspired to manufacture and possess with the intent to distribute less than 100 marijuana plants. Evidence presented to the court at the time of Weakland's sentencing reflected that Weakland conspired with George M. Lowmaster and others to grow marijuana plants with the intent to facilitate and promote Lowmaster's drug distribution organization.

Assistant United States Attorney John J. Valkovci, Jr., prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

A joint task force, headed by the Laurel Highlands Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Weakland. Other agencies participating on the task force include the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, Pennsylvania State Police, Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office, Cambria County District Attorney's Office, Carrolltown Police Department, Patton Police Department, Ebensburg Police Department, Portage Police Department and the Paint Township Police Department.