Prison next for Iron Ranger who grew hundreds of pot plants in national forest

February 2, 2009 at 9:25PM

A 50-year-old man from the Iron Range was sentenced to five years in prison today in federal court in Minneapolis for producing more than 270 marijuana plants in a national forest in Itasca County.

Judge James Rosenbaum sentenced Matthew X. Lindgren on one count of manufacturing and possession with intent to distribute 100 or more marijuana plants. Lindgren pleaded guilty in September.

According to the plea agreement, he admitted that developed and maintained his marijuana cultivation site near Gunn Lake in the Chippewa National Forest. The site contained seven plots, with 30-35 plants in each.

He also admitted that he transported the harvested plants to a Hibbing residence to store them.

PAUL WALSH

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