Crime and Courts

Helena man sentenced for running marijuana grow operation

Posted: Jan 2, 2013 11:37 AM

HELENA - A Helena man accused of running a marijuana grow operation was sentenced to one year in prison.

Paul Roy Schmidt, 57, pleaded guilty to manufacturing marijuana and money laundering. He was sentenced in federal court in Helena by Senior U.S. District Judge Charles C. Lovell to 12 months in prison, four years supervised release and a $750,000 money judgment.

According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, a federal search warrant was executed in May 2011 at which time law enforcement found 289 marijuana plants, three gallon-size bags of marijuana, other marijuana ready for distribution, $913 taken from a cash register, assorted edibles - brownies, rice crispy treats, oatmeal bars, marijuana oils, lotions, soaps, creams; a ledger and a log book of items sold, and receipts for marijuana transactions.

Investigators determined that Schmidt made money from selling marijuana and used the money to continue growing and selling the drug at a distribution center in Helena.

The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration.