2 plead guilty in marijuana-seed operation

A pair from Vancouver, B.C., pleaded guilty in Seattle's federal court today in a marijuana-manufacturing operation.

The U.S. Attorney's Office in Seattle said Michelle Rainey, 38, and Gregory Keith Williams, 54, voluntarily appeared in Seattle to resolve charges stemming from a 2005 grand-jury indictment. The attorney's office said the two were employees of marijuana-seed distributor Marc Emery, who remains in Canada while fighting extradition to the U.S. on similar charges.

Terms of plea agreements for Rainey and Williams include recommended sentences of two years probation. Sentencing is scheduled for July 17.

According to court documents, Rainey worked for Emery, who billed himself as the "prince of pot," from 1998 to 2005, assisting with Emery's mail-order marijuana-seed business, which had many U.S. customers

Court documents said Williams handled phone orders and also sold seeds directly to customers. Authorities said Williams had sold seeds to a Drug Enforcement Administration undercover agent.

Authorities said Emery's seed operation took in more than $3 million annually.

Emery is scheduled for an extradition hearing in Canada on June 1.

Charles E. Brown: 206-464-2206 or cbrown@seattletimes.com