Whitefish marijuana provider pleads guilty

MISSOULA (AP) — A medical marijuana provider from Whitefish has pleaded guilty to federal drug charges after agents raided his business in March 2011.

Christopher Ryan Durbin pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to manufacture and distribute marijuana and structuring or making bank deposits of less than $10,000 to avoid IRS reporting requirements.

Federal prosecutors say Durbin owned and operated several businesses in the Columbia Falls area.

Agents conducted undercover marijuana purchases at Good Medicine Providers and recovered more than 1,000 marijuana plants at warehouses in Kalispell and Olney.

Co-defendants Aaron Durbin, Justin Maddock and Trey Scales have also pleaded guilty to drug charges, but prosecutors say Durbin was in charge of the distribution network.

He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 29.