BANGOR — Federal officials are splitting $1.1 million in forfeited money from a massive marijuana growing operation among Maine law enforcement agencies.
The marijuana operation was concealed in the woods and bogs in Township 37, near Horse Lake in Washington County. Drug agents in 2009 seized nearly 3,000 plants and 40 pounds of processed marijuana valued at $9 million.
Five men were either convicted or pleaded guilty.
A judge imposed sentences of more than 14 years for Malcolm French, 54, of Enfield, and more than 12 years for Rodney Russell, 52, of South Thomaston, for charges including manufacturing drugs and harboring workers who were in the country illegally. A third man, Kendall Chase, 59, of Bradford, was sentenced to five years in prison for conspiracy.
The acting U.S. attorney for Maine and the IRS special agent in charge of criminal investigations in Boston are announcing the distribution of proceeds.
The money will be divided among the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency; the Maine State Police; the Maine Warden Service; the Washington County Sheriff’s Department; and the Brewer, Biddeford, Scarborough and Gorham police departments.
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