ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, February 14, 1996 TAG: 9602140035
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JAN VERTEFEUILLE STAFF WRITER
The first defendant to be sentenced in an indoor marijuana-growing operation was in federal court Tuesday, where he received 31/2 years in prison for helping distribute what was known as "Phototron" pot.
Robert Selman, a 36-year-old Bedford County painting contractor, was ordered to report April 8 to a federal prison for his part in helping distribute the locally grown marijuana. Police believe a group of growers and distributors ran a sophisticated indoor operation, with 13 "grow houses" producing the best marijuana that buyers - and police - had seen.
Phototron is the name of a machine used to grow plants indoors.
U.S. District Judge James Turk decided that Selman had distributed between 80 and 100 kilograms, or 176 to 220 pounds, over the life of the conspiracy. Turk said he believed Selman probably was responsible for "a whole lot more than 100" kilograms, but the plea agreement Selman reached with the government said he would be held accountable for fewer than 100 kilos.
Selman testified that he bought marijuana from Roanoke County real estate agent Victor Layman and resold it to lower-level dealers beginning in 1991 or 1992, making between $200 and $300 per pound. He said he stopped actively participating after his house was robbed and his wife attacked by people he suspected were looking for his pot money. Selman's attorney believes the robbery and attack came in 1992.
"I decided that's enough," Selman said. "I pretty much lost interest after my wife got beat up."
After that, he said, he served mainly as a go-between for Layman and Bedford dealer Freddie Wright, who didn't know each other. Wright would call Selman about once a month when he was ready for more pot, and Selman said he would call Layman. Layman then would deposit the pot in a Roanoke County storage bin for Wright to pick up.
Selman said he usually was paid in marijuana rather than in money and that he has no idea how much pot was being moved between Layman and Wright. He said he believed the quantities being put forth by the government "are a little high," but said he had no evidence to dispute them. Based on interviews with witnesses, the government believes Selman was moving up to 10 pounds of pot a month, although there were frequent dry spells when the crop wasn't ready.
Selman was arrested in December 1994. He and nine others later were indicted in federal court. Eight, including Selman and Layman, pleaded guilty to felony conspiracy charges, one pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor marijuana possession charge, and the last has had his case continued because he is critically ill. The other eight will be sentenced between now and April.
Wright, who cooperated with police and became an informant, was never charged in federal court. The prosecutor said he does have state charges pending.
Turk gave Selman two months to report to prison so he could finish painting jobs he has under way and pay off some debts. His wife said she is looking for a job to support their two children while he is incarcerated. Selman's attorney, Jack Gregory, stressed throughout the sentencing hearing that the Selmans did not live an extravagant life indicative of illegal income.
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