More defendants to serve federal prison time in “high-grade” marijuana conspiracy

The last three defendants were sentenced Thursday to federal prison for their roles in an extensive marijuana drug trafficking conspiracy that brought 'high-grade” marijuana from Colorado and California to Cedar Rapids from 2011 to 2013.

The trafficking operation was detailed last week in court files and as of Thursday all of the 12 co-conspirators pleaded guilty and have been sentenced. The trafficking ring was taken down through a DEA investigation that involved court authorized wiretaps on multiple cell phones.

Some of the co-conspirators financed the trips from Colorado and California, one man grew the marijuana in Breckenridge, Colo., others were in involved in transporting, and purchasing and reselling the marijuana, according to court documents.

In one transport, at least three were involved in transporting 25 pounds of the product by a private plane from Colorado to the Iowa City airport. One of those men, Shannon Ehlts, 38, of Lowden, was sentenced Thursday to nine months in federal prison.

U.S. District Chief Judge Linda Reade said she had many concerns about Ehlts because of previous convictions for OWI and drug charges. Ehlts also has a marijuana and alcohol dependency and was at high risk for recidivism.

Mike Lahammer, Ehlts' attorney, asked the court to impose seven and half months of probation with electronic monitoring and drug testing.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Lighfoot said Ehlts, as most of the co-conspirators, received less prison time because they were eligible for a 'safety valve” sentence, meaning there is an exception to the mandatory minimum sentence according to the Sentencing Reform Act. Sentences for the 12 ranged from probation to four years in prison. However, Lightfoot said Ehlts differs from the others because he does have more of a criminal record.

Another defendant, Jesse Tolen, 36, of Castella, Calif., was sentenced to two years in prison. He transported multiple pounds of the high grade quality marijuana from California to Iowa and brought the cash for the product back to California to pay off the distributors.

Reade said this was a 'calculated conspiracy” as Tolen during the trips would switch out car tags between California and Iowa tags to cover up his activities. Reade also had an issue with Tolen because he had tested positive for marijuana while on pre-trial release.

Corey Marx, 29, of Cedar Rapids, was also sentenced to eight months in prison. He was one of the dealers who received marijuana and sold it in the Cedar Rapids area.

All these defendants must serve three years of supervised released after serving their prison time.