Four Maine men and a West Enfield timber company, owned by one of them, were named in documents unsealed in the U.S. District Court in Bangor Monday after all were arrested and/or served with papers charging them in connection with a major marijuana growing operation in Washington and Penobscot counties. Authorities were tipped off about it and raided the marijuana growing operation in 2009.

Rodney "Rod" Russell, 48, of South Thomaston, was indicted and arrested Sept. 23, as were Malcolm A. French, 50, of Enfield; Kendall Chase, 55, of Bradford; and Robert "Bobby" Berg, 49, of Dexter. Warrants for the men's arrests were issued Sept. 14 and delivered to the U.S. Marshals Service for action.

According to the court documents, Russell and French are both facing nine felony counts, including conspiracy to manufacture 1,000 or more marijuana plants (Class A), manufacturing 1,000 or more marijuana plants (Class A), two counts of maintaining a drug involved place (Class C), and three counts of harboring illegal aliens (Class D).

If convicted, both men face between 10 years to life imprisonment, a $10 million fine, or both, for the marijuana charges; up to 20 years imprisonment and $500,000 fine, or both, for the drug involved place charges; and up to five years imprisonment and $500,000 fine (or both) for the harboring charges.

They also face between three years and life supervised release for the various charges.

Berg was indicted for one count of manufacturing 1,000 or more marijuana plants (Class A felony), two counts of harboring illegal aliens (Class D felony) and one count of accessory after the fact (Class C felony).

Berg is facing at least 10 years to life imprisonment, a $10 million fine, or both, and at least five years to life supervised release for the marijuana charge and up to five years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both, and up to three years supervised release for the harboring charge. He is also facing up to 15 years imprisonment, a $5 million fine, or both, and up to three years supervised release for the accessory charge.

Chase is facing two indictments, including conspiracy to manufacture 1,000 or more marijuana plants and manufacturing 1,000 or more marijuana plants, both Class A felonies. If convicted, both charges carry sentences of at least 10 years to life imprisonment, a $10 million fine, or both, and at least five years and up to life supervised release.

According to court documents, Chase may face an "enhanced mandatory minimum penalty of 20 years imprisonment" by virtue of "prior felony drug conviction" for the conspiracy charge and "enhanced term of supervised release" for the same reason for the manufacturing charge.

The corporation, Haynes Timberland Inc., located in Penobscot and Washington counties, was indicted for maintaining a drug involved place. The Class C felony carries a penalty of a $500,000 fine.

According to the court document, the case stems from a marijuana growing operation discovered in Township 37 in Washington County in 2009.

Forfeiture allegations are also included in the court documents, which stipulate that if convicted, the defendants shall forfeit any property "derived from...obtained, directly or indirectly, as the result of such offense and any property used, or intended to be used,... to commit, or to facilitate the commission of, the offense, including, but is not limited to..."

• a certain lot or parcel of land in Township 31, Washington County, deeded to Malcolm A. and Barbara A. French;
• Haynes Timerland Inc. and its assets, including a deeded parcel of land in Township 37, Washington County;
• a certain lot or parcel of land in LaGrange, Penobscot County, deeded to Malcolm A. French; and
• a second certain lot or parcel of land in LaGrange, Penobscot County, deeded to Malcolm A. French.