Laytonville man could face decades in prison for pot

A Laytonville man has pleaded guilty in federal court to marijuana-related charges that could land him in prison for decades, the U.S. Attorney’s Office reported Monday.

Matthew David Graves pleaded guilty Friday to manufacturing and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, conspiracy to do so, and money laundering, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Graves admitted in court to possessing more than 100 marijuana plants with the intent to distribute them on multiple occasions between Nov. 6, 2008 and Nov. 8, 2012, federal officials said.

He deposited the money into the account of his business - Matt Graves Construction - on multiple occasions, actions aimed at concealing the source of the money, according to U.S. Attorney officials.

Graves initially was indicted on nine federal charges, most of them the same marijuana production and money laundering charges. He pleaded guilty to all the charges except for one charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm, officials said.

Graves also consented to the forfeiture of his interest in four pieces of property in Leggett and a 2008 Toyota Tundra, officials said.

The charges to which he pleaded guilty each carry potential prison terms of between 20 years and 40 years, officials said.

The case stems from investigations by the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Internal Revenue Service, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Graves is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 17 in U.S. District Court in San Francisco.

You can reach Staff Writer Glenda Anderson at 462-6473 or glenda.anderson@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @MendoReporter