HC list ping. First, Ann Coulter will be heard on Howie’s show 4 pm Tue hour for the foreseeable future. Now, remember Howie’s T shirt maker?
Owner of Corinna business charged in marijuana-growing scheme released on bail
by Judy Harrison, Bangor Daily News
>>BANGOR, Maine — The owner of a Corinna business raided by federal investigators in January 2011 and accused of playing a role in a large marijuana-growing operation in Washington County was released Wednesday after posting $250,000 secured bail.
Robert Berg, 49, of Dexter was arrested Sunday along with co-defendants Malcolm French, 50, of Enfield; Rodney Russell, 48, of South Thomaston; and Kendall Chase, 55, of Bradford. All four men along with Haynes Timberland Inc., a Maine corporation, were indicted on federal drug and other charges arising from the Sept. 22, 2009, seizure of nearly 3,000 marijuana plants.
Each pleaded not guilty to the charges lodged against them late Monday afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Margaret Kravchuk, according to a previous report. All but Berg were released on bail.
Berg’s release was held up while firearms were removed from his home and deeds of trust to property he owns could be posted as bail.
...Russell, French and Chase are charged with conspiracy to manufacture more than 1,000 marijuana plants. French, Russell, Berg and Chase are charged with manufacturing more than 1,000 marijuana plants. French, Russell and Haynes Timberland Inc. are charged with managing and controlling property used to manufacture marijuana. French, Russell and Berg also are charged with harboring illegal aliens. In addition, Berg is charged with assisting individuals conspiring to manufacture marijuana evade apprehension.
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Berg is the owner of Berg Sportswear, the Corinna business that does custom screenprinting and embroidery that was raided by federal investigators in January 2011. Documents made public in July 2011 indicated that investigators were looking for evidence that Berg was using logos for major sports teams illegally.
Investigators in January 2011 seized business records, computers and dozens of boxes of merchandise from the business and residence, according to a custody receipt for seized property and evidence filed in federal court in Bangor. In addition to those items, more than $38,000 in U.S. currency and $740 in Canadian cash was found and seized in safes in the garage of Berg’s home.
How that evidence is related to the charges on which Berg was indicted was not clear Wednesday.
When the marijuana operation was discovered in 2009 in Washington County, MDEA officials categorized the size, scope and detail of the operation as quite surprising. They said the plants — many of them 8 feet tall and highly cultivated — were of extremely high quality.
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(Tommy Chong) “WOW MAN!!!”
Please drag your nets around once in a while to show normal wear and tear. Also, hook up an old GM 61 to use when in earshot of shore. Them 2500-Hp two-stage Turbo MTU's is a dead giveaway to revenuers.