A 30-year-old Missouri man, who claimed to just be a recreational marijuana user and not a drug dealer, was recently sentenced to serve 23 years in prison for his role in a drug trafficking scheme. With this sentence, he also has no chance of parole, which means he could end up behind bars until the age of 53.

Authorities claimed that the 30-year-old of Columbia, Missouri, along with two others, all worked together in order to transport high quality marijuana into Missouri. This marijuana was then distributed throughout Boone County.

This marijuana trafficking supposedly went on from 2005 to 2008.

When looking at the evidence against the Missouri man, it was in February 2007 that authorities found more than 240 pounds of marijuana inside of a home in Columbia, Missouri. After finding that stash, an investigation into the drug trafficking ring continued on for another year.

And while it's not clear exactly when, during this investigation authorities also seized more than $224,000 in cash from a home the 30-year-old lived in. In 2008, an additional 12 pounds of marijuana was also found in a car tied to two of the men involved in the case.

After the 30-year-old was arrested, he quickly explained that while he did smoke marijuana recreationally, he was not a drug dealer. He also reiterated to The Columbia Daily Tribune newspaper that he did not sell drugs, and that the large amount of cash he had in his home stemmed from insurance claims.

In the end, the 30-year-old ended up being found guilty of money laundering, intent to distribute, drug trafficking, distribution and possession. The co-defendants have since also pleaded guilty to their role in the distribution ring.

When looking at this case, and the severity of the man's sentencing, it goes to show how seriously the legal system takes drug crimes. Because of this, if you are ever charged with a drug crime -- even if it's just possession -- it's important to have legal representation on your side.

Source: The Columbia Daily Tribune, "Man gets 23 years for drug conspiracy," Jan. 20, 2012