$184K seized from ex-Griz QB in marijuana probe

HELENA — Federal agents seized more than $184,000 from bank accounts associated with a former Montana Grizzlies quarterback and his medical marijuana and automotive detailing businesses, according to inventories filed in U.S. District Court.

The seizures from at least nine bank accounts and one safety deposit box associated with Jason Washington and his businesses were part of a yearlong marijuana trafficking investigation by federal authorities.

No charges have been filed. Washington, 28, did not return calls for comment left Monday at his two businesses. His attorney, Josh Van de Wetering, said he is negotiating with the U.S. attorney's office about the money that was seized, but he declined to speak further about his client's involvement in the medical marijuana business.

"I'm not going to make any comments about anything on the marijuana side. Nobody should take that as any kind of admission," Van de Wetering said.

The recently returned inventories show that agents seized $92,600 in cash, $91,425 in cashiers' checks, two necklaces and a pair of earrings from accounts listed either under Washington's name or that of Charlene Washington, Big Sky Health, 406 Motoring LLC, Washington Enterprises LLC, Dalla Terra LLC, WE Properties or Giovane Denaro LLC.

The bank seizures were executed Nov. 16 along with 12 search warrants calling for the seizure of any marijuana, firearms and records at homes, businesses and warehouses in western Montana. The search warrants included Washington's medical marijuana business, Big Sky Health, and his automotive customizing business, 406 Motoring Automotive Specialists.

The Missoula Business Licensing Division confirmed Monday that Washington owns Big Sky Health in Missoula.

Van de Wetering said Big Sky Health was not presently operating but that 406 Motoring is still running. He declined to say what was seized from the businesses or from Washington's home.

Washington started five games for the Grizzlies in 2005 before being injured. He was kicked off the team in 2007 for reasons Coach Bobby Hauck did not disclose at the time.

The U.S. attorney's office has declined to speak about the raids or the investigation beyond a statement earlier this month that said the actions were part of a 12-month probe into the drug trafficking activities of a criminal enterprise operating in the state.

Besides Washington's businesses, federal agents raided two other medical marijuana businesses in western Montana: Kind Medicine in Missoula and Glacier Health in Kalispell. Federal agents seized more than $35,600 from at least five bank accounts associated with the owner of Kind Medicine, according to the returned warrants.

Inventories of what was seized in the raids of the businesses, homes and warehouses were unavailable Monday.