The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa said today (Thursday), two rural Audubon County men have pled guilty to their role in  a conspiracy to manufacture marijuana.  44-year old Paul Joseph Irlmeier and his co-defendant, 62-year old Randy Frank Irlmeier, both pled guilty on May 30th, to charges they conspired to manufacture at least 100 marijuana plants.   Based upon their pleas of guilty, the Irlmeiers face a mandatory minimum of 5 years imprisonment up to a maximum of 40 years imprisonment, a fine not to exceed $2,000,000, at least 4 years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 special assessment.

In addition, Paul Irlmeier has agreed to forfeit $104,503. The forfeiture allegations against Randy Irlmeier will be resolved at a
later hearing. Both defendants are scheduled to be sentenced on September 28th, 2012, before Chief District Court Judge James E. Gritzner in Council Bluffs.

As part of their guilty pleas, the Irlmeiers admitted to conspiring to grow, harvest and distribute marijuana at their respective rural Audubon County residences between approximately 2005 and October 27th, 2010. On October 27th, 2010, law enforcement located evidence of a sizable marijuana growing operation, including a large quantity of mature marijuana plants at the
residence of Randy Irlmeier in Audubon County. Both men admitted responsibility for at least 100 marijuana plants during the conspiracy.

The investigation was conducted by the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement and the Audubon County, Iowa, Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.