2 sentenced in Ohio pot case

COLUMBUS (AP) — A man described as responsible for recruiting individuals to harvest and cultivate thousands of marijuana plants in eastern Ohio has been sentenced to two years in prison.

Jose Vilchiz-Garcia, sentenced today in federal court in Dayton, was one of 11 men arrested last September as authorities discovered the marijuana in rural Muskingum County.

The attorney general’s office has said the operation was an example of Mexican cartel-sponsored drug production.

Authorities say the 28-year-old Vilchiz Garcia also directed the purchase of supplies for the operation.

A final defendant, 27-year-old Daniel Zarco-Aguilar, received a 20-month sentence today.

Both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to knowingly and intentionally manufacturing more than 1,000 marijuana plants.

A message was left with Vilchiz-Garcia’s attorney, while Zarco-Aguilar’s lawyer declined to comment.