LAKE COUNTY — The Drug Enforcement Administration in San Francisco took a Lake County man who had been charged with marijuana violations into custody Thursday.
Tom Carter was arrested Wednesday, taken to the Sonoma County Jail and transferred to the custody of the DEA Thursday, according to the Sonoma County Jail.
In August 2009, the United States Attorney”s Office charged Carter and Brett Bassignani with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana and distributing or possessing with intent to distribute marijuana.
Scott Feil and Diana Feil of Lake County along with Steven Swanson of Sebastopol are charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana, distributing or possessing with intent to distribute marijuana, conspiracy to launder money and engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specific unlawful activity.
The first two counts carry a maximum of life in prison and a 20-year sentence with possibly $5 million to $6 million in fines. The third and fourth charges have a maximum sentence of 30 years with thousands of dollars in fines. The defendants allegedly conspired starting about 2002 to possess more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana products with intent to sell.
Swanson and Scott and Diana Feil were booked into the Sonoma County Jail Aug. 18 and the FBI in San Francisco took them into custody the following day. The defendants appeared in court Aug. 26 for a status conference and the case was continued to 2:30 p.m. Jan. 27 for a motions hearing.
The Feils, Swanson, Carter and Bassignani were arrested in August 2009 during a DEA raid.
Katy Sweeny can be reached at kdsweeny@gmail.com or call her directly at 263-5636, ext. 37.
