Two from March raid in Olney sentenced

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, assisted by other federal and state agencies, served search warrants on 12 locations in Kalispell, Missoula, Somers and Whitefish on Nov. 16, as the federal government continues its crackdown on marijuana operations in Montana.

Caught up in the sweep was former University of Montana Grizzly quarterback Jason Washington, 28, of Missoula, whose Big Sky Health medical marijuana business was targeted. Washington was not arrested, but agents seized $184,000 in cash from several bank accounts related to his businesses along with his 2006 Big Sky Conference championship ring.

Locally, two men connected with Black Pearl medical marijuana growing and dispensary business on U.S. 93 in Olney have been sentenced in federal court.

According to court documents, Ryan Blindheim, 35, of Whitefish, purchased an old warehouse in Olney and, with help from Evan Corum, 35, of Whitefish, transformed it into a grow operation. Agents found 488 marijuana plants and 70 pounds of bulk marijuana at the site when it was raided on March 14.

Prior to the raid, agents from U.S. Department of Homeland Security tracked deposits Blindheim and Corum made in a Whitefish Credit Union savings account. Deposits in November 2010 alone ranged from $3,000 to $9,000 and totaled $86,850.

Blindheim said he invested $300,000 purchasing the 18,000-square-foot building and equipping it with grow equipment. He has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to manufacture marijuana and money laundering and awaits sentencing.

Corum, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to launder money, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Donald Molloy on Dec. 1 to six months in prison and six months on house arrest. The $86,850 from the credit union was forfeited.

Michael Kassner, 24, of Kalispell, who also was arrested in connection with the Black Pearl raid, was sentenced by Molloy on Nov. 10 to 12 months and one day in prison. According to court documents, he and Tyler Roe, 29, of Kalispell, lived on the premises and took care of the plants.

Kassner, who had the electricity bill in his name, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to manufacture marijuana. Roe, who considered himself the "on-site manager," has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to manufacture marijuana and awaits sentencing.