News Conference Scheduled for 4 p..m. TODAY in Marinette

MADISON — Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen and Marinette County Sheriff Jerome Sauve invite members of the media to a news conference TODAY to discuss last week's drug enforcement action in Marinette County.

News Conference
4 p.m., Today
Marinette County Sheriff's Office -- Training Room
2161 University Drive in Marinette

On Monday, July 16, 2012, federal search warrants were served at two locations in Marinette County related to the investigation of a large-scale marijuana growing operation. Attorney General Van Hollen and Sheriff Sauve will discuss this multi-agency effort, and visuals from the eradication effort will be available at the news conference. Last week's enforcement action is one of several – involving thousands of marijuana plants – that has been undertaken in recent years across the state.

Agencies participating in this ongoing investigation include: the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Wisconsin Department of Justice - Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), the Marinette County Sheriff's Office, the Brown County Drug Task Force and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

United States Attorney James L. Santelle of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced last week that five individuals were charged in connection to this investigation. A charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.