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.
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