KENNETH W. STONE, 57, of Vashon Island, Washington was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to five years in prison and five years of supervised release for Manufacturing Marijuana and Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute. At sentencing Chief U.S. District Judge Robert S. Lasnik found that STONE ran a criminal enterprise where people were making significant money dealing drugs. At the time of his guilty plea on December 22, 2006, STONE agreed to a sentencing range of 60 - 72 months in prison.

STONE is the last of six defendants to be sentenced in connection with the case. All were family members or close friends involved in the marijuana conspiracy. According to court filings, in 2003 and on March 18, 2004, law enforcement officers with the West Sound Narcotics Enforcement Team (WESTNET) served search warrants and seized more than 800 marijuana plants at six sites connected to STONE on Vashon Island and Kitsap County. The plants have a street value of more than $800,000. At one Port Orchard property rented by STONE and his wife, officers found more than 250 marijuana plants growing in two construction trailers. Inside the residence on the site they found processed marijuana and the tools for processing marijuana. At STONE’s residence on Vashon Island they found marijuana, scales, packaging materials and truckloads of equipment used for setting up marijuana grows.

“This is not a case about medical marijuana. This is not a case about a guy growing ten plants in his bathtub,” Assistant United States Attorney Janet Freeman said at sentencing. “This was a family business. This was a family enterprise.... and he (Stone) has put a lot of people out there (at risk) for his own gain.” STONE is forfeiting equipment, cash and bank accounts seized by the government in connection with the case.

Five defendants have already been sentenced for their roles in the marijuana scheme: STONE’s wife, Debra Stone, pleaded guilty December 13, 2004 to Establishment of Manufacturing Operations. She was sentenced March 24, 2006 to 30 days home electronic monitoring and three years of supervised release. STONE’s son-in-law, Ronnie Irish, pleaded guilty April 18, 2005 to Manufacturing Marijuana. On December 16, 2005, Irish was sentenced to four months in prison, eight months of electronic home monitoring and three years of supervised release. STONE’s daughter Crystal Irish pleaded guilty on April 18, 2005 to Manufacture of Marijuana. On December 16, 2005, she was sentenced to three years probation. STONE’s son, Casey Creedon, pleaded guilty on May 16, 2005 to Establishment of Manufacturing Operations. He was sentenced to twelve months and a day in prison and three years of supervised release. George Correll pleaded guilty on December 7, 2005 to Manufacture of Marijuana and was sentenced March 24, 2006 to 90 days of electronic home monitoring and three years of supervised release.

The case was investigated by the West Sound Narcotics Enforcement Team (WESTNET).

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Janet Freeman and Norman Barbosa.

For additional information please contact Emily Langlie, Public Affairs Officer for the United States Attorney’s Office, at (206) 553-4110.

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