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Man found guilty in large pot bust
Posted: 03.17.2011 at 5:33 PM
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JEFFERSON CITY, MO -- A man has been found guilty in one of Columbia’s largest marijuana seizures.

A federal jury convicted Eric S. McCauley, 29, of Columbia, of conspiracy to distribute pot.

Evidence presented during the trial indicated he was responsible for selling more than 220 pounds of pot from 2005 to December 2008.

During the investigation law enforcement officers seized $224,663 in cash owned by McCauley.

In all, the jury found McCauley guilty of 29 counts.  Here’s how that breaks down:

  • 1 count drug-trafficking conspiracy
  • 1 count distributing marijuana
  • 2 counts possessing marijuana with the intent to distribute
  • 1 count money-laundering conspiracy

24 counts money laundering related to transfers of funds designed to conceal the location of drug-trafficking proceeds

McCauley will face a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years in federal prison without parole, but he could get up to 45 years without parole.

Co-defendants Robert A. Hocks, 29, and Galen C. Baxley, 27, both of Columbia, already have pleaded guilty to their roles in the drug-trafficking conspiracy.

The 3 often traveled to Massachusetts and California to buy high-grade pot, which they redistributed in Boone County.

Columbia police officers executed the search warrant at a stash house at 4647 Brandon Woods on February 7, 2007.

Police said they discovered more than 240 pounds of marijuana in the house.

In December of 2008, officers found another 12 pounds of pot in the trunk of Baxley and McCauley’s vehicle.

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