COLUMBUS, Ohio – A man accused of importing a “mountain of marijuana” into central Ohio will be off the streets for more than a decade.
A federal judge on Thursday sentenced Levi Winston, 50, to more than 11 years in prison for conspiracy and money laundering charges.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Hunter told the court Winston has admitted to bringing in “a literal mountain of marijuana” — approximately 5,000 kilos — with a street value of between $4 million and $4.5 million.
Winston pleaded guilty on May 2 to charges of conspiracy to possess and distribute more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana and money laundering. Judge Gregory Frost sentenced Winston to 135 months on each count and ordered the sentences to run concurrently, according to the office of U.S. Attorney Carter Stewart.
Winston’s arrest was the result of an investigation by the Central Ohio High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Drug Task Force, a cooperative effort that includes, among others, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification, the Franklin County Prosecutor’s office, police from Gahanna and Hilliard, the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Ohio National Guard Counterdrug Program.
“This is a prime example of agencies working together to send a loud and clear message that drug trafficking will not be tolerated in Franklin County and law enforcement will be diligent in bringing those involved to justice,” Franklin County Sheriff Zach Scott said.
“The level of cooperation between local, county, state and federal authorities continues to play an important role in keeping the citizens of Columbus safe and in reducing the availability of illegal drugs in the Columbus area,” Columbus Police Chief Kim Jacobs said.
Nine other people have pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to distribute narcotics or conspiracy as a result of the investigation:
Prosecutors say Winston and his associates hid several tons of marijuana inside tractor trailers and industrial machinery and transported them from Mexico to central Ohio.
Winston and several of his associates were later arrested shortly after Oct. 17, 2011, when investigators intercepted nearly 1,800 pounds of marijuana by setting up a “controlled delivery” at a warehouse that Winston had rented in Gahanna.