(Seth McConnell, Denver Post file)

Federal court: 242 pounds of marijuana flown to East Coast

PITTSBURGH — A Utah man faces five to 40 years in federal prison after pleading guilty Monday to flying 242 pounds of marijuana from northern California, which was intercepted at a small western Pennsylvania airport.

(Correction made Nov. 17 at 1:20 p.m. Previous versions of the story misreported the origin of the marijuana. The source is northern California.)

Fifty-four-year-old Ken Burrows, of Provo, Utah, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute marijuana in federal court in Pittsburgh.


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The pot, worth about $1.2 million, was in sealed plastic containers. Burrows claimed to be flying hot water tanks as cargo.

Federal prosecutors say Burrows was recruited to fly the drugs to the East Coast.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents intercepted the drugs when Burrows landed his Cessna on Dec. 13 at New Castle Municipal Airport, about 45 miles northwest of Pittsburgh.

He’s scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 15.


True stories: Did you hear about the 1.5 tons of marijuana tossed into Caribbean as smugglers escape? What about the woman who got busted with a weed-filled RV in Wyoming’s Yellowstone National Park?