Kent Allen Jones, the former Days Creek resident who is called the mastermind of the ring, faces up to 35 years in prison in the case

The federal prosecutor handling the drug ring case involving several people with ties to Douglas County said he will seek a life sentence for one of four remaining defendants who has not struck a plea deal.
Monte Stiles, an assistant U.S. attorney in Boise, Idaho, filed a notice late last month saying he intends to seek a mandatory life sentence for Gregory F. Sperow if the case goes to trial and the defendant is convicted.
The decision was based upon the large amount of drugs alleged to have been transported and sold by Sperow and his four previous convictions for felony drug offenses, Stiles wrote.Sperow, who was serving time in a federal prison in California for a previous conviction when he was originally charged in the current case in September 2006, is accused of multiple counts of operating a continuing criminal enterprise, conspiracy to manufacture, possess and distribute controlled substances, conspiracy to structure transactions and launder money and conspiracy to travel and transport in aid of a racketeering enterprise.
The ring is accused of selling more than $20 million worth of marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamine since 1977. The group started by growing marijuana on public and private land outside Days Creek and Tiller and later expanded to properties purchased for that purpose in other parts of Oregon, Washington and California, according to prosecutors.The defendants also smuggled drugs from Mexico, Columbia and South America, authorities have reported. Airplanes, trucks, boats and cars were all used to transport the drugs.Kent Allen Jones, the former Days Creek resident who is called the mastermind of the ring, faces up to 35 years in prison in the case.
Jones, 52, pleaded guilty in December to conspiracy to distribute marijuana and money laundering. Jones, who most recently resided in Vancouver, Wash., but who grew up in Days Creek and later spent time in Roseburg, faces between 10 and 15 years on the conspiracy count. In addition, Jones faces up to 20 years for money laundering. He also faces a fine of up to $4 million and forfeiture of cash, homes, vehicles and other assets purchased through drug proceeds.
Several other defendants have also entered guilty pleas on various charges relating to the enterprise and are awaiting sentencing.