DAVENPORT, IA - On June 18, 2015, George Peter Podes, age 44, formerly of Denver, Colorado, was sentenced by Chief United States District Court Judge John A. Jarvey to 96 months in prison, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute at least 100 kilograms of marijuana, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. Podes was also ordered to serve four years of supervised release after the imprisonment, and to pay $100 towards the Crime Victims Fund.
From approximately May 2011 to March 6, 2013, Podes agreed with several individuals, including Jared Fromknecht, Morgan Hermiston, Charles Williams, Harrison Summers, Jacob Aldrich, Michael Wood and Austin Iossi to manufacture and distribute marijuana. Podes was involved in the growing and manufacturing of multiple pounds of marijuana in Colorado that were provided to Jared Fromknecht for distribution in Iowa. Podes also acted as a middleman for marijuana transactions involving 20 to 40 pounds of marijuana at a time. In furtherance of this conspiracy, Podes obtained equipment and plant materials to manufacture multiple marijuana grows, for a total of in excess of 500 plants, at his Colorado residence. Podes admitted that he was responsible for at least 100 kilograms of marijuana and/or 100 marijuana plants.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Iowa Department of Public Safety-Division of Narcotics Enforcement, the United States Postal Inspections Service, and the Davenport, Iowa, Police Department. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
