JOHNNY BOONE GREW MARIJUANA ON AN INDUSTRIAL SCALE UP IN THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS IN KENTUCKY. AFTER GETTING BUSTED ONE TO MANY TIMES, HE WENT ON THE RUN TO AVOID A LIFE SENTENCE.
When I touched down at FCI Manchester, a federal prison in the foothills of Kentucky in 1993, Cornbread Mafia leader Johnny Boone was already a legend of mythical proportions in the Appalachian Mountains for growing acres upon acres of weed in the National Forests that surrounded the Bluegrass State. Nobody called him the ‘Godfather of Grass’ or ‘Charlie Grass’ as the media depicted, inside the belly of the beast he was just known as Johnny Boone, expert marijuana grower.
He lived in Knox unit with a lot of the other country-boy-outlaws from Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia. Guys like Tom Dooley and Big Pete, loud and colourful guys. But Johnny Boone was real quiet. He kept to himself, didn’t dawdle around, and stayed on the weight pile. At only 50-years-old Johnny Boone was still in his outlaw prime. A very exact and business-like person that I don’t remember smiling a lot. Not like we were pals or anything, but I saw him in passing on the compound.
Doing time for a weed conspiracy, he would soon return to the world, where he’d become recognised as an “Original Gangster” of the “Weed Game.” A pioneering legend who paved the way for the legalisation efforts that are sweeping the United States right now. A man that only broke the law because he disagreed with the government’s vilification of the plant he loved. A hillbilly pot cultivator who consistently grew and produced what we called ‘kind bud’ back in the day.
“Unlike traditional organized crime models of La Cosa Nostra or the cartels, the marijuana underground was largely non-violent,” Chris Simunek, the former editor-in-chief of High Times Magazine, tells me. “The Cornbread Mafia was an exceptionally large operation in terms of both production and manpower as far as marijuana goes.”
Johnny Boone got started in the weed cultivation game in 1970. He had already gotten himself into trouble with the law for “sweating barrels,” a form of moonshining, so growing marijuana was the next logical step. Cannabis plants were already growing wild in Kentucky because of the “Hemp for Victory” campaign during World War II and as the local boys-turned-soldiers starting coming back from Vietnam with an understanding of what marijuana was selling for around the country, Johnny Boone began cross-breeding strains to isolate preferred characteristics and producing quality product on an industrial scale.
“The only trick was don’t get caught, and Boone was already good at that,” says James Higdon, author of Cornbread Mafia: A Homegrown Syndicate’s Code Of Silence And The Biggest Marijuana Bust In American History. “He wouldn’t get caught until 1982, then again in 1987, and then again allegedly in 2008. People [in Central Kentucky] support Johnny, [they] understand that he tried to do things the right way, even while he broke the law.” Johnny Boone is an outlaw, but uniquely not in the Old West or Jesse James mould.
“Jesse James was a violent criminal who left a body count in the wake of robbing railroads, banks and people’s hard-earned savings during hard times. He lived by the gun and died by the gun. I don’t see a lot of honour in that way of life.” says Higdon. “On the other hand, Johnny Boone never stole from anyone. He was just out in the field growing more marijuana than you can imagine and trying not to get caught. It is important to point out here that Johnny Boone has never been accused of murder or any violent crime. He just grows tons of Indica by the acre.”
A Robin Hood of the marijuana industry, who USA Today trumpeted as “no angel, but beloved in Central Kentucky.” A victim of America’s misguided War on Drugs where increasingly draconian sentences for marijuana did nothing to stem availability on the streets. Pot became easier to buy, despite DEA thugs busting high schoolers for weed. It was too easy to grow and the profit motive was too big to ignore. After serving his prison stints, Boone always returned to growing, but he got busted again and went on the run.
“Johnny went on the run in May 2008, when police allegedly caught him with 2,000 seedlings in flowerpots,” Higdon says. “Since that would have been his third federal strike and an automatic life sentence, he apparently decided to hit the road. He lasted eight years on the run.” The feds prosecuted 70 members of his alleged organisation and no one flipped. “I don’t think you’d have seen that had they been dealing cocaine,” Simunek notes. “Hard drugs tend to attract less principled businessmen.”
Finally captured in December 2016 by Canadian immigration officers in a Montreal shopping mall, “where Boone had gone to buy Christmas presents for the family he was staying with,” Higdon relates, Boone’s case in Kentucky is headed to trial. It seems the legend of Johnny Boone is alive and well. Another chapter being written in the chronicles of marijuana outlaws lore.
28 Comments
I just read your excellent article, but I don’t recall Johnny growing much marijuana in Eastern Kentucky mountains in the National Forest. Johnny is a personal friend of mine. In the 1970s Johnny grew primarily around the central Kentucky area. I was in FCI Manchester in the early 1990s with Johnny too. I lived in Whitley Unit and then later in Clay Unit. I served a twenty five year sentence for cultivating and distribution of marijuana as part of the Cornbread Mafia. After I was released from prison in 201, I started working for an Attorney, Elmer George, in Lebanon Kentucky as a paralegal and law clerk. In 2016 I published my first book “The Origins of the Cornbread Mafia, A Memoir of Sorts.” Mr. George, C. Thomas Hectus and Steve Stephens represented Johnny regarding his current case. After his capture in Canada in 2016 I was honored in assisting the attorneys in resolving Johnny’s case. While our legal team argued for a shorter sentence, Johnny was sentenced to 57 months–instead of the life sentence many thought he might receive.. I am currently working on a second book about the Cornbread Mafia which should be published in the near future.
Joe Keith Bickett
did you know if any of the last name “Pile” were involved? I’ve heard many times a few of the family were, probably around springfield and such.
Ii lived it u are all wrong lol
Joe Keith, I remember Jonny well, as I too spent some time in Clay unit,.. He…or at least to he would drive the Guards crazy collecting Moths and butterflies to decorate his cell…glad to see you are doing well as I just watched your review with the reporter reviewing your Book! Say hello to some of my old buddies …and you know who they are :)…Sorry TO HEAR Jonny had to learn French all for not
Hey Jim. Just now saw your post. I’m sort of out of the loop. Just wanted you to know that Johnny and I are doing well. He is out now and doing well.
That is awesome Joe, I too am out of a lot of loops … Trying to retire, bought some land in Florida… I am sure i will blend in… Old folks and their Parents- hope all is well
Joe Keith the books you have written are remarkable
Thanks my friend!
Let the man go he not a bad person
Is this the Allen who used to kick my ass in handball every day in the Yard? Cool Beans if it is 🙂
I just want to figure out what modern day strains Johnny May have helped cultivate
He was a pioneer breeder in the the.sense that he realised ‘early’ flowering varieties were key to successful harvests in colder climates. HUGE Game changer when you harvest in mid September vs late October. Even now many professional growers haven’t learned this lesson and hundreds of thousands of dollars are lost to mold and police in October. The man was a legend.
You are exactly right. Some of the earlier strains we developed did well in your part of North America as well as many of the northern states. In fact we grew several of those early maturing varieties in Kentucky. Hope all you guys are doing well.
Can somebody get this guy a map of Appalachia?!?
I’m from the Appalachia Mountains of Eastern Kentucky according to DEA KY grows more weed per capita than any other state
I’m from the Appalachia Mountains of Eastern Kentucky according to DEA KY grows more weed per capita than any other state
Anyone who thinks of Johnny as a hillbilly is very wrong.
Johnny is a smart man who could fit in anywhere he wanted to go.
Hillbilly has nothing to do with intelligence. If you don’t know that, you don’t know much about hillbillies.
Some of my best friends are from the mountains I’m proud to say. Very intelligent and solid people.
I lived it also…thank God for people being wrong..
Johnny Boone did not grow pot in the mountains of Kentucky. He is from the Washington/Marion County area in the middle of the state.
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It ashamed put my friend in prison for growing weed I hang in there my friends it’s it’s about over with
I was lost when I got out but it’s a lot better now take care friends4 life jtomblin
Joe Keith Bickett did you remember big Bruce Tingle? I’m Chris.You might know me if I said my last name which I won’t.I met Johnny way back in the day.Me and Bruce was taking him supplies when he was first hidding out in “The Barn”! I assume if you knew him that well you knew about the barn.Im from Chaplin KY.Bruce Lived in Washington Co.over off the Chaplin Rd. side of Springfield KY.
Yes I remember that name. Its been so long I’m trying to recall the connection
Yes I do remember. Good work on you guys part. Hope all you guys are doing well.
My buddy gave me some seeds from souvenir seed Co. Suppose to be original kentucky bluegrass (purple midnight) 🤞 any info on these? Thanks! I’ve been reading since he gave me the pack!
Most people are as weak as pu most people are as weak as puppy pissed when it comes to the DEA . No one hardly is loyal anymore I know a woman who turned in a international cocaine ring over getting caught with a joint in jail promoting contraband she fucked up a lot of life’s