VASHON ISLAND MAN SENTENCED TO ONE YEAR IN PRISON FOR MARIJUANA GROW OPERATION
CASEY CREEDON, 36, of Vashon Island, Washington was sentenced today to one year in prison and three years of supervised release for Maintaining a Residence for Manufacturing Marijuana by Chief U.S. District Judge Robert S. Lasnik. In March 2004, detectives discovered 121 marijuana plants in a locked trailer on CREEDON's Vashon Island property.
CREEDON was one of six people indicted by a Federal Grand Jury for Conspiracy to Manufacture Marijuana at various locations in Kitsap and King Counties. CREEDON and two others have entered guilty pleas in connection with the case. CREEDON pleaded guilty on May 16, 2005 to Maintaining a Residence for Manufacturing Marijuana. Three other defendants, Kenneth Stone, Debra Stone and George Correll, all of Vashon Island are scheduled for trial November 14, 2005.
According to court records, investigators found not only plants but harvested and packaged marijuana on the property. CREEDON claimed the marijuana was for personal medicinal use, however detectives found a digital scale, latex gloves, packaging material, and packaged marijuana bud in various quantities at CREEDON's residence, indicating to investigators that he was distributing the marijuana as a source of income.
CREEDON is forfeiting his interest in U.S. currency seized as part of the case and in the equipment associated with the grow.
Under the terms of his three year supervised release following prison, CREEDON is barred from using any drugs or alcohol. CREEDON's attorney had asked that his client be sentenced to home detention, but Chief Judge Lasnik ruled that the 12 month prison term was appropriate saying, "This is not an easy punishment... there is a penalty that needs to be paid."
The case was investigated by the WestSound Narcotics Enforcement Team (WestNET) and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Janet Freeman.
For additional information please contact Emily Langlie, Public Affairs Officer for the United States Attorney's Office, Western District of Washington, at (206-553-4110).
