3 ACCUSED OF GROWING MARIJUANA

Three Ripley County men have been arrested on federal warrants for marijuana cultivation and distribution.

Herman E. Ehrenberg, 52, Roy D. Friend, 29, and Clint Payne, 29, were charged by a grand jury with conspiracy to manufacture and cultivate marijuana with intent to distribute, cultivating marijuana on federal land, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and maintaining a place for the maintenance and distribution of a controlled substance.

In the indictment, the government seeks to forfeit $23,000 in currency and money orders seized from Ehrenberg's residence near Doniphan, Ehrenberg's camouflage-colored 1990 Nissan pickup and his mobile home and acreage in Ripley County.

U.S. Attorney Michael W. Reap said the indictment is the first of several to be presented to the grand jury as a result of a lengthy investigation of those involved in marijuana cultivation and distribution in Southeast Missouri.

If convicted, the defendants face a sentence of not less than 10 years or not more than life and not more than a $4 million fine.

Ehrenberg, Friend and Payne are to be arraigned Friday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lewis M. Blanton in Cape Girardeau.