SYRACUSE– A 41-year-old Frankfort, NY man pled guilty in federal court on Monday to knowingly manufacturing over 1,000 marijuana plants.

Corey Leitz admitted to setting up and maintained a marijuana manufacturing operation inside a barn. By December 14, 2011,he had successfully grown 3200 marijuana plants. LEITZ then sold the marijuana he manufactured to numerous customers in Herkimer County and elsewhere.

This marks the second felony drug conviction for Leitz who has a prior felony drug conviction in 1998 in Herkimer County.

At sentencing which is set for January 29, 2013, Leitz faces a mandatory 20 years imprisonment with a potential maximum of life imprisonment. Following his incarceration Leitz would be subject to a minimum 10 years of supervised release up to life and a fine of up to $20 million.

This prosecution resulted from a joint investigation undertaken by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the New York State Police, and the New York National Guard Counterdrug Task Force.