Wyoming Tomato Farmer Pleads Guilty to Growing Marijuana

CASPER, WY. (AP)    –   An organic tomato farmer in Wyoming pleaded guilty to federal charges of growing marijuana and money laundering.

Stewart Doty of Big Piney faces about two years in prison when he is sentenced in November. He also must forfeit $63,000 in cash seized during a search of his property in August 2017.

Doty, who is 61, pleaded guilty Thursday to growing and distributing between 88 and 132 pounds (40 and 60 kilograms) of marijuana and depositing $35,000 in marijuana proceeds in a Colorado bank account.

KTWO-AM reports Doty told U.S. District Judge Scott Skavdahl that his farming business had been declining and his debts were mounting so he converted about a third of his tomato greenhouse to growing marijuana.

Doty said he knew it was illegal, but didn’t realize the severity of the crime.

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Information from: KTWO-AM, http://www.k2radio.com/