SEATTLE (AP) — A 31-year-old Seattle man described by federal prosecutors as the leader of a crime ring involved in both drug trafficking and bank fraud has been sentenced to 812 years in prison.
Mario Earl was sentenced Monday for conspiracy to distribute marijuana and bank fraud. The U.S. attorney’s office says the ring was distributing large amounts of marijuana in the Chicago area. Authorities say the criminals shipped 15-20-pound boxes of marijuana to the Illinois city via FedEx, dumping fabric softener in the boxes to try to mask the marijuana scent.
Prosecutors say ring members also were obtaining identity documents in other people’s names and “skimming” identifying information from bank debit and credit cards.
Two other men have also been sentenced.
