One man entered a guilty plea to charges relating to cultivating and trafficking in marijuana, while four other defendants in the case saw their charges dismissed.
52-year-old Jorge Bello of Florida was initially charged with cultivating marijuana – 5 or more plants, and trafficking in marijuana – 8 ounces to 5 pounds. Under the plea agreement, those charges were amended to cultivating marijuana – under 5 plants, and trafficking in marijuana, under 8 ounces.
The plea agreement was accepted in Russell Circuit Court, with Bello being sentenced to 12 months in prison.
According to court documents, the court also ordered the sum of $50,000 be forfeited to Kentucky State Police.
85 percent of that money, or $42,500, will be paid to Kentucky State Police for direct law enforcement purposes. The final 15 percent, or $7,500, will be paid to the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.
The charges against 26-year-old Ariana Cajigas, 52-year-old Ramon Cajigas, and 49-year-old Ariadna Ramos, all of Russell Springs, were amended from felonies to misdemeanors on a motion from the commonwealth’s attorney’s office and dismissed with prejudice.
The charges against 27-year-old Alejandro Hernandez, also of Russell Springs, were dismissed without prejudice. That means the case is dismissed, but charges can be re-filed in the future.
The defendants were arrested in September by Kentucky State Police in connection with an alleged indoor grow operation at a residence on Old Sano Road.
