Owner of campground used for music festivals pleads guilty to federal charges, gets 2 1/2 years in prison

A musician Tuesday pleaded guilty in federal court in Cape Girardeau to one felony charge of maintaining a drug-involved premises.

Jimmy Tebeau, 44, of St. Louis was charged in June 2011 with operating a campground on about 350 acres where he allegedly facilitated the sale of cocaine, marijuana, LSD, psychedelic mushrooms, Ecstasy and opium, the Department of Justice said in a news release.

As part of a plea agreement, Tebeau will forfeit the property in Shannon County, Mo., to the government and serve two and a half years in prison.

Tebeau, who operates a Grateful Dead tribute band called The Schwag, was at the center of a four-year federal investigation into Camp Zoe, a Shannon County campground he purchased to hold music festivals like "Schwagstock" and "Spookstock." The venue closed in November 2010 after the federal government seized it.

Tebeau admitted that he was aware of drug use on the property and had instructed his employees that certain types of drugs -- like marijuana, LSD and mushrooms -- were permissible in the campground, the release said. Tebeau had instructed employees to eject anyone who sold crack cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin or nitrous oxide gas at the venue, the release said. Tebeau did not participate in any drug sales nor did he receive any funds from the sale of any controlled substances, according to the release.

The plea agreement must be approved by a district court judge. Tebeau's sentencing hearing is scheduled for Sept. 4.

Pertinent address:

499 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, MO