Ephraim marijuana farmer is sentenced to prison

A Mexican man indicted for operating a marijuana farm near Ephraim has been sentenced to five years in prison.

Jose Luis Rodriguez, 34, was indicted in federal court in November of 2008, along with Cesar Duran Frias, after they were caught running from the farm where they were growing more than 1,000 marijuana plants. Rodriguez received twice the amount of prison time as Frias because he was carrying a handgun at the time of his arrest.

The men were discovered after a group of hunters came upon the marijuana farm. Investigators later returned to the area and found four separate growing areas totaling 15,000 to 20,000 plants.

As he is a Mexican national and had entered the country illegally, U.S. District Judge Ted Stewart ordered that Rodriguez be deported following his release from prison.

Frias was previously sentenced to 30 months in prison.

— Emiley Morgan