The Blotter
The Times' criminal justice team looks behind the scenes and behind the headlines.
April 6, 2009 6:35 PM
Seattle man pleads guilty to growing pot in suburban homes
Posted by John de Leon
A 36-year-old Seattle man, who federal prosecutors say organized several marijuana grow houses in Snohomish County, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to manufacture marijuana. Jerry R. Berkey faces a prison sentence of between seven years and three months and nine years when he is sentenced on July 10 in U.S. District Court in Seattle.
According to a news release, over the past five years Berkey organized marijuana grow operations in suburban homes with several other people. He would pay for the rent, plants and would distribute the marijuana to buyers. The news release said Berkey grew more than 4,000 plants at five different homes in Lynnwood, Everett and Edmonds.
Prosecutors allege that each of the grow operations brought in about $3,000 every 30 days.
Berkey was arrested Oct. 10, and was indicted by a federal grand jury about two weeks later.
Police and prosecutors say residential homes, particularly in Seattle's suburbs, are increasingly being used to hide marijuana grow operations. Times staff reporter Jonathan Martin wrote about the trend in a July 2007 story.


- QFC blocks new liquor stores from some shopping centers
- Seahawks get TE Kellen Winslow in a trade
- Time for Mariners to waive Chone Figgins, play the kids | Steve Kelley
- Man accused of hitting noisy kid at Wash. theater
- Get a sitter — please — for these 10 great date-night restaurants | All You Can Eat
- Quit drinking beer on job, Highway 520 builders told
- Investigation: Seattle principal didn't violate policy in handling alleged sexual incident
- Marysville cop charged with manslaughter in daughter's death
- Hernandez turns duel into laughter in M's 6-1 victory
- 'Lucky to be alive,' teen hails rescuers
- Mariners and Hector Noesi go for five wins in a row
372 - Catholic groups turn to courts in contraceptive fight
343 - Voters like Seattle arena idea, but not paying for it, poll shows
268 - NAACP returns to relevance by backing same-sex marriage
233 - Game thread, Mariners vs. Rangers, May 23
201 - Advocacy groups file initiative to put charter schools on November ballot
186 - CBO warns of US falling off 'fiscal cliff'
151 - The Obama campaign's strange assault on private equity
128 - Quit drinking beer on job, Highway 520 builders told
109 - Moviegoer arrested for allegedly throwing punch at 10-year-old boy
100
- Get a sitter — please — for these 10 great date-night restaurants | All You Can Eat
- Recipe: Brown Butter Asparagus Risotto
- QFC blocks new liquor stores from some shopping centers
- Jon Kitna's greatest play: NFL QB to high-school math teacher
- 'Lucky to be alive,' teen hails rescuers
- Born to run barefoot? Some end up injured
- Recipe: Grilled Curried Chicken With Mango Salsa
- World War II veteran takes flight into the past on B-17
- Downtown Seattle condos are finally filling up
- Quit drinking beer on job, Highway 520 builders told

May
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
| 1 | 2 | |||||
| 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
| 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
| 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| 31 |
