United States Drug Enforcement Administration

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - William Robert Barsanti, 27, of Junction City, Calif., pleaded guilty in federal court to growing marijuana, Drug Enforcement Administration Acting Special Agent in Charge Bruce C. Balzano and United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced.

According to court documents, sheriff’s deputies searched three Trinity County properties owned by Barsanti and seized a total of 2,769 marijuana plants and five pounds of processed marijuana. On August 5, 2011, a property in the Barker Creek area of Hayfork was searched and three people were arrested on state marijuana cultivation charges. Deputies seized 2,142 marijuana plants from 22 greenhouses. On August 16, 2011, at a property near the Felter Gulch area of Junction City, 485 marijuana plants were seized. On September 28, 2011, at 360 North Oak Avenue, Hayfork, deputies encountered Barsanti, who was detained as law enforcement conducted the search. As a result of this warrant, law enforcement seized 142 marijuana plants and approximately five pounds of processed marijuana.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Trinity County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Daniel S. McConkie is prosecuting the case.

Barsanti is scheduled to be sentenced by United States District Judge Lawrence K. Karlton on April 30, 2013. The plea agreement contemplates a sentence of five years. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court at the hearing. Barsanti also faces criminal forfeiture of the properties used to grow the marijuana.