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February 23, 2014Sioux Falls, SD, United StatesNarcotics

Northern California man sentenced in South Dakota to 5 years in federal prison for illegal marijuana-distribution conspiracy

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – A northern California man was sentenced Monday in federal court to five years in prison for his role in a drug conspiracy.

This sentence resulted from an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) Criminal Investigation.

Brett Aaron McFarland, 29, of Korbel, Calif., was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison, which is also to be followed by four years of supervised release.

According to his plea agreement, McFarland must also forfeit all his interest in the proceeds of the sale of the property located in Petrolia, Calif., which he acquired from his illegal activities.

McFarland was indicted Sept. 10, 2013 for conspiracy to distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana. He pleaded guilty via plea agreement Nov. 12, 2013.

McFarland joined a conspiracy to illegally distribute marijuana in South Dakota and elsewhere. During his involvement, he grew, harvested, and obtained marijuana; he illegally distributed it, caused it to be illegally delivered and distributed; and he received payments for it. Marijuana was grown and harvested in, among other places, on property in California. The proceeds of the marijuana sales were used to make payments on the property.

McFarland has been ordered to turn himself in to begin his sentence on or before March 13, 2014.

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