Marijuana Provider Reaches Post-Conviction Plea Deal

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — A medical marijuana provider facing more than 80 years in prison and the forfeiture of $1.7 million has reached a post-conviction plea agreement that dismisses six of eight drug-related convictions as long as Chris Williams agrees not to appeal.

The agreement was filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Helena.

Williams was convicted in September and soon after rejected a plea agreement that called for a mandatory minimum 10-year sentence.

Under Tuesday's agreement, Williams remains convicted of possessing a firearm in connection with drug trafficking and possession with intent to distribute marijuana. The firearm charge carries a mandatory minimum five-year sentence while the distribution charge calls for a sentence of up to five years. The agreement also calls for prosecutors to ask U.S. District Judge Dana Christensen to dismiss the forfeiture requirement.