An Upper Hanover man was sentenced to four to 10 years in state prison after he admitted to his role in a major drug ring which transported marijuana grown in California to seven counties in Pennsylvania.  

        Jason Marks, 44, of the 2900 block of Kutztown Road, pleaded guilty June 3 in Montgomery County Court to felony charges of corrupt organizations, possession with intent to distribute, conspiracy with intent to distribute and dealing in unlawful proceeds, according to the county's clerk of courts office.

        Montgomery County Judge Gary S. Silow accepted the plea agreement, which gave Marks credit for 14 months in jail.  Marks was arrested in June 2014 and made nominal bail granted by Silow last month. 

        He was ordered to report to prison June 22, court personnel stated.

        Marks, who was given a minimum of 40 months in prison, was made eligible for an early release program called Recidivism Risk Reduction Incentive (RRRI), according to his lawyer, John I. McMahon Jr.  The program is offered to non-violent offenders who maintain good behavior in prison.

        Prosecutor Montgomery County ADA Jason Whalley said he is satisfied with the sentence.

        "I feel state prison is appropriate because this was a cross-country operation that made hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars," he said, referring to Marks who served as the operation's East Coast distributor.

        McMahon said he, too, is happy with the outcome.

        "I am very pleased with the disposition of Mr. Marks case," he said Tuesday.  "Considering the many charges he had which spanned several years of time, we were able to get him an excellent deal.  He took his punishment and we are happy with the result."

        McMahon said under the RRRI guidelines, Marks could serve five-sixths of that minimum sentence and be out in approximately two years with time served.  

        Marks was originally charged with corrupt organizations, 17 counts of manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver, conspiracy and related offenses after a joint investigation by narcotics enforcement teams of the District Attorney's Offices of Montgomery and Berks counties, Upper Perk Police, PA State Police and the California Mountain and Valley Investigative Team starting back in 2010.

        The organization reportedly sold high-grade marijuana with a street value of more than $1 million, which was grown in California and transported to Pennsylvania by RV from 2007 through 2014.  Court documents allege that Marks acted as a distributor and point of contact for a number of sub-dealers throughout the state.

        Authorities executed a search warrant at homes associated with Marks March 31 and April 1, 2014.  In total, they seized more than $419,000 in cash, 15 guns, ranging from assault rifles to handguns, 14 cell phone, and approximately 75 pounds of marijuana from Mark's home and a home in Douglass Township, Montgomery County, belonging to Marks' mother and grandmother, police said. 

        More than $270,000 of that cash was allegedly hidden inside Marks' 1995 Mercedes Benz.

        The street value of the marijuana ranged from $225,000 to $375,000, authorities alleged.

        Authorities said the drug organization was also run by Larry F. Kline, 43, of McKinleyville, CA, Michael A. Lynch, 46, of Boyertown, Ruben Morales, 48, of Philadelphia and Gregory P. Gaudreau, 36, of East Greenville.

        Court proceedings for those men are still ongoing.  A total of 22 people were arrested as part of the drug ring.