Pubdate: Sat, 10 Nov 2001 Source: Evansville Courier & Press (IN) Copyright: 2001 The Evansville Courier Contact: http://www.courierpress.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/138 Author: John Martin Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) DALE MAN GIVEN LIFE SENTENCE IN DRUG CASE A Dale, Ind., man received a life prison sentence Thursday in connection with a sophisticated marijuana operation in Michigan that involved several local individuals, including a former executive director of the ECHO Health Center in Evansville. The marijuana farming operation is believed to be one of the biggest ever discovered in Michigan, and authorities say large amounts were distributed in the Evansville area. Federal authorities say Chad Robinson, 45, of Dale, purchased a 75-acre farm in Sanilac County, Mich., where marijuana worth millions of dollars was produced in 1995 and 1996. Authorities discovered the marijuana operation in October 1996 while investigating a complaint of horses running loose in the area. Ties to the operation were found in the Evansville area as well as in Kentucky and Ohio. Authorities say the farm was bought by Robinson in February 1995, and more than 14,000 pot plants were processed there that year. The figure grew to 19,000 plants in 1996, say authorities. Robinson's life sentence was ordered Thursday by U.S. District Judge David Lawson in Bay City, Mich. Authorities say the drug charge on which Robinson was convicted normally carries a sentence of 10 to 20 years, but it was upgraded in his case because of two prior felony drug convictions. Other local individuals charged in connection with the operation include: Ralph Michael Kough, 53, the former ECHO Health Center executive director. Kough received a two-year prison sentence in May after pleading guilty to a federal marijuana charge. He was convicted of buying marijuana from the farm for local distribution. Kough's wife, 53-year-old Barbara Kough, has pleaded guilty to Indiana state marijuana charges arising from a search warrant execution at her home in 1998. She has not been sentenced. Marcus Robinson, 53, of Tennyson, Ind., was the owner of record on the Michigan farm and one of its primary financiers, say authorities. He was sentenced Sept. 26 to 15 years in federal prison. Rex R. Robinson, 40, of Oakland City, Ind., has been convicted of two federal drug charges and is still awaiting sentencing. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth