Tampa, Florida -- A major marijuana distributor who transferred large amounts of pot from Arizona to the East Coast, including Florida and Canada, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges, the U.S. Attorney A. Brian Albritton said Friday.
Ricardo Ashmeade, also known as Rasheed Robinson, 37, faces a mandatory minimum of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $8 million when sentenced in U.S. District Court.
Ashmeade, a Jamaican national and resident of Toronto, made large cash profits from his drug deals, the U.S. Attorney said, and will forfeit them -- multiple bank accounts, houses and vehicles worth more than $2 million.
He had been under investigation since 2006 when authorities learned he had drug warehouses in Pinellas Park and Phoenix, Arizona, in a scheme that shipped thousands of pounds of marijuana bundled in tractor trailers.
A sentencing date has not been set.
U.S. Attorney's Office - Tampa