5 convicted in drug-growing operation

GREEN BAY - Five of the seven people charged with a large-scale marijuana-growing operation near Lakewood have pleaded guilty, with two others apparently headed for trial.

Authorities announced in August they made arrests after discovering more than 8,400 marijuana plants, which would have been worth millions of dollars on the street.

All but one of the suspects were in the country illegally. They would serve their prison time before possible deportation proceedings would begin.

According to online federal court records, the five who pleaded guilty will be sentenced to between 10 years and life in prison. Those hearings start in January. They are: Jose Alfredo Sierra-Aguilar, Pedro Infante-Ramirez, Guillermo Chavez-Carrion, Miguel Sanchez-Garcia and Maria Blanca Garcia.

Trial for a sixth suspect, Juan Carlos Cervantes Contreras, is set for Jan. 15.

A seventh subject, Jose Luis Sanchez, is listed as having a trial date Tuesday, but court officials say that will not happen. No other court dates for him are scheduled.