Pubdate: Mon, 08 May 2006
Source: News-Examiner, The (Gallatin, TN)
AID=/20060508/NEWS03/60508010
Copyright: 2006 The News Examiner
Contact:  http://www.gallatinnewsexaminer.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2711
Author: Leon Alligood

KEEPER OF UNDERGROUND POT CAVE PLEADS GUILTY TO THREE CHARGES

LEBANON -- A Trousdale County man has pleaded guilty to charges that  
he ran a huge underground marijuana-growing operation in a cave  
hidden under a house.

Fred W. Strunk pleaded guilty this morning to three criminal charges:  
growing marijuana, money laundering and theft. He was sentenced to 12  
years on the theft charge and 18 years for growing marijuana, with  
the sentences to be serve concurrently -- a move that will  
effectively give him an 18-year sentence.

He was ordered to serve at least 30% of his sentence, or a little  
over five years, before becoming eligible for parole.

He also must repay Tri-County Electric a total of $60,001 for  
electric power he stole from the utility to power the underground  
lights and other equipment that allowed him to grow the drug in the  
cave.
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