Two men were sentenced in federal court in Sacramento today for charges related to an interstate marijuana shipping business.
U.S. District Judge Morrison C. England Jr. sentenced Jauwon Pierre Wilder, 28, to two years in prison, and Charles Wilson, 35, to 10 months in prison, according to a federal Department of Justice news release. Both men are from Sacramento.
According to court documents, in 2011 co-defendant Keni Renta ran a business that sold marijuana interstate. He obtained a majority of his supply from other California growers. Wilson grew marijuana for the business, and Wilder helped launder the proceeds from the operation.
Renta's out-of-state buyers paid him by depositing amounts less than $10,000 in bank branches in other states for accounts in Renta's name or that he controlled. Renta has pleaded guilty to structuring cash deposits and is to be sentenced buy Judge England on Nov. 1.
Authorities said Wilder assisted in the marijuana-shipping business, opening bank accounts in his own name to facilitate the deposit of a larger volume of cash payments by out-of-state marijuana purchasers. At Renta's direction, Wilder withdrew cash in amounts of less than $10,000 and provided the cash to Renta.
In October and November 2011, at least $182,750 was structured into Wilder's account. Judge England ordered the forfeiture of the structured funds.
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