Lucasville Man Ordered Held Without Bond on Marijuana, Obstruction of Justice, Money Laundering Charges

COLUMBUS—A federal grand jury here has returned a 13-count indictment charging Kevin L. Burton, 49, of Lucasville with conspiracy, manufacturing marijuana, obstruction of justice, and money laundering.

Carter M. Stewart, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Keith L. Bennett, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, (FBI), Cincinnati and Scioto County Sheriff Marty V. Donini announced the indictment today.

Sheriff’s deputies and FBI agents arrested Burton on June 15 based on charges in the indictment. U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Preston Deavers ordered Burton held without bond after a detention hearing in federal court in Columbus on June 17. Burton is scheduled for trial on August 23, 2010 before Senior U.S. District Judge James L. Graham.

The indictment alleges that Burton and Anna L. Montgomery, 46, of Lucasville conspired since 1995 to manufacture 1,000 or more marijuana plants. Burton and Montgomery allegedly obtained properties in his name or in the names of others and set up rooms in residences and outbuildings to use as locations to grow the marijuana. If convicted of this crime, Burton and Montgomery face a minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and the possibility of life imprisonment.

Montgomery was placed on home confinement pending trial.

The indictment also charges Burton and Montgomery with one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice and one count of obstruction of justice for knowingly attempting to intimidate, threaten, influence, delay and corruptly persuade witnesses before a federal grand jury investigating the case. Each crime is punishable by up to 20 years' imprisonment.

Burton is also charged with one count of maintaining a place to manufacture marijuana and nine counts of money laundering. Each count is punishable by up to 20 years' imprisonment. The indictment also seeks forfeiture of three pieces of real estate and more than $413,000 in cash.

The indictment alleges that Burton laundered $293,221.16 in proceeds from the sale of marijuana through the sale of the Rubber Duck Car Wash in Jackson, Ohio.

Stewart commended the cooperative investigation by Scioto County Sheriff’s deputies and FBI agents, along with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Kelley and Robyn Hahnert, who are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an accusation. All defendants should be presumed innocent until and unless the government proves their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt in court.