Two Men Sentenced in Federal Court for Roles in Bi-Coastal Marijuana Distribution Case

Columbia, South Carolina --- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that Jeremy David Grove, 30, of Greenville, South Carolina, and Jaspal Singh Grewall, 40, of Anaheim, California, have been sentenced in federal court for their roles in a marijuana distribution and money laundering conspiracy operating between the East Coast and California.  On December 12, 2017, the men were charged in a seven-count indictment with conspiracy to distribute marijuana, conspiracy to launder drug proceeds, and conspiracy to structure financial transactions.

Grove pled guilty to the marijuana distribution and money laundering conspiracies, and Grewall pled guilty to conspiracy to structure financial transactions.  United States District Judge Bruce H. Hendricks sentenced Grove to 5 years in federal prison and 4 years of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system.  For his role in the offense, Grewall received a 3-year probationary sentence.  A third man charged, Tyler James Durney, 36, also of Greenville, awaits sentencing.

According to U.S. Attorney Lydon, Grove and Durney devised multiple schemes to pay for and to transport, via the United States Postal Service and commercial carriers, hundreds of pounds of California-sourced high-grade marijuana to South Carolina.  Beginning in November 2014, the defendants deposited and caused to be deposited hundreds of thousands of dollars in drug proceeds into “funnel” or “pass through” bank accounts held by Grewall, in amounts at or under $10,000.00 to circumvent the reporting requirement regarding cash transactions over $10,000.00.

During the guilty plea hearing, the defendants admitted using multiple bank accounts in a coordinated manner to funnel the illicit currency from South Carolina for immediate withdrawal in California. Pursuant to a plea agreement, Grewall has forfeited over $780,574.00 in cash and real property to the government.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Marshals Service, the United States Postal Inspector, and the Greenville City Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Leesa Washington of the Greenville office.