Oregon Men Plead Guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Pot

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Two men who grew marijuana in Oregon and shipped it to Texas, Virginia and Florida have entered guilty pleas in federal court to marijuana distribution and money laundering conspiracy charges.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Portland says Cole Griffiths of Hood River and Raleigh Lau of Portland pleaded guilty Monday.

Prosecutors say Griffiths shipped pot to Florida that was cultivated and stored in Hood River. He concealed the drug proceeds by smuggling cash back to Oregon in the mail or in luggage on commercial flights. He also concealed proceeds through vehicle sales.

Prosecutors say Lau manufactured over 1,000 marijuana plants and conspired to ship them for sale in Texas and Virginia.

Two other defendants have pleaded guilty. Another is set to plead guilty while a final defendant has a trial set.

None of those charged were licensed by the state to grow marijuana.