Attorney General announces indictment of drug-distribution operation that tried to use state medical marijuana system as a cover

DENVER — Colorado Attorney General John Suthers announced today that his office, in conjunction with the Northern Colorado Drug Task Force, has shut down a marijuana-distribution ring that used state-issued medical marijuana records in an attempt to conceal its distribution of large quantities of marijuana to non-patients in northern Colorado and New Mexico between December 2009 and December 2010.

“This case, while disturbing, should come as no surprise to Coloradans who have been concerned that there is a nexus between Colorado’s booming medical marijuana industry and illegal distribution of the drug,” Suthers said. “This case counters the contention among marijuana advocates and some public officials that a regulated medical marijuana system will undercut the illicit market for marijuana.”

According to the indictment obtained by the Office of the Attorney General, Richard G. Caleel (DOB: 5/18/1976), Lakshman N. Garin (DOB: 1/25/1982), Buck Glanz (DOB: 9/26/1982), Magin Gomez (DOB: 11/2/1980), Micah Krout (DOB: 6/9/1981), Clayton McCann (DOB: 8/1/1982) and Laura Vanwormer (DOB: 9/30/1966) produced the marijuana in Erie, Fort Collins, Longmont and Westminster. According to the indictment, Charles Whitson (DOB: 1/23/1982) and Austin Leard (DOB: 10/21/1981) are suspected of selling the marijuana.

The drug ring is suspected of using packets of photocopied patient records as a cover for their operation. According to the indictment, the grow operations intended to use the records to convince law enforcement they were caregivers acting in compliance with Colorado’s medical marijuana laws. Investigators learned that the suspects came to Colorado from New Mexico to use the state’s medical marijuana laws as a cover.

“This case reflects a growing trend in Colorado of individuals and organized groups of individuals growing high grade marijuana under the guise of Amendment 20 and blatantly distributing it to anyone willing to pay their price,” said Sgt. Gary Shaklee of the Northern Colorado Drug Task Force. “As is the case with all drug dealers, this is about greed, plain and simple. Much of the marijuana in this case was knowingly transported out of state where it is resold for as much as $7,000 per pound.”

The Northern Colorado Drug Task Force and the Office of the Attorney General seized more than 110 pounds of processed marijuana worth an estimated $375,000, 687marijuana plants, during its investigation as well as nine firearms and $175,000 in cash.

Prosecutors from the Office of the Attorney General and the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office will present the case against the defendants in Jefferson County District Court.

Drug Ring indictment CLICK HERE