Medford Man Sentenced To More Than Three Years In Prison On Federal Marijuana Charges
Defendant admitted to using Oregon Medical Marijuana Program as a front to grow marijuana for sale
MEDFORD, Ore. - Today, Donald Galvan, 48, of Central Point, Oregon, was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison for conspiracy to manufacture and distribute 100 or more kilograms of marijuana.
The charge stemmed from an April 2011 traffic stop in Texas where police seized 43 pounds of marijuana. The driver admitted he was on his way to Florida to sell the marijuana for $5,500 per pound, and that 23 pounds came from Galvan. The driver also admitted he had previously sold 72 pounds of marijuana from Galvan and still owed Galvan $125,000.
DEA agents conducting surveillance on Galvan’s residence in Central Point observed a truck driven by Richard Crusos arrive and leave. Galvan then departed the residence in his pickup truck and was stopped by agents, seizing 65 pounds of packaged marijuana. Galvan admitted 27 pounds came from his marijuana grow and 38 pounds came from Crusos’ marijuana grow. Galvin was on his way to sell the marijuana and he expected to receive $126,000 for his marijuana and $60,000 for Crusos’ marijuana. Agents executed a search warrant at Galvan’s residence and discovered the remnants of a large marijuana grow, in addition to processed marijuana, scales, packaging materials, and drug notes. Galvan grew 96 plants the previous season, yielding approximately 200 pounds of marijuana bud. Galvan admitted that although he grew the marijuana under the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program, it was really a front to grow marijuana for sale.
Agents also executed a search warrant at Crusos’ house in Medford, seizing 109 marijuana plants, 37 marijuana starts, and 24 pounds of packaged marijuana bud. Crusos acknowledged that some of the marijuana seized from Galvan’s pickup truck was his. Crusos admitted growing 92 marijuana plants the previous year, and that he distributed “quite a bit” of marijuana to local marijuana storefronts. Crusos pled guilty and was sentenced in July 2012 to 18 months in federal prison.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration assisted by the Oregon State Police, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Rogue Area Drug Enforcement Team, and the Bureau of Land Management.
