ROCKFORD – The first of four men connected to a large-scale marijuana-growing operation in Paw Paw last year was sentenced Friday to 9 years in federal prison.

Benjamin F. Garcia, 27, of Aurora pleaded guilty in December to two counts: conspiring to manufacture 100 or more marijuana plants, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug conspiracy.

Officers from the Illinois State Police Blackhawk Area Task Force and other agencies raided rented houses at 1025 and 1027 Paw Paw Road on March 26, 2011. They arrested Garcia; Eric M. Konrady, 26, of Naperville; and Donald P. Cipra, 28, and Shannon L. Gregory, 40, both of Paw Paw.