A handsome parcel of 30 acres of land in Hardwick, Vt. could be yours. It looks out at farms and mountains. On it sits a large home, complete with fountain, swimming pool, and pens and barns outside for animals. All of it, except for the contents of the home, is being sold to punish a criminal. "You want to hit them in the pocketbook," said Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal for the District of Vermont Bill Gerke. "That's where they're really going to hurt the most."

   Ronald Aldrich, 48, was sentenced in 2007 to 14 years in federal prison. At the time, Judge William Sessions called Aldrich's marijuana smuggling scheme the largest the judge had seen in Vermont.
Prosecutors described literally tons of pot brought from Canada into Vermont over a period of years, sometimes hidden in shipments of grain. "Criminals are looking at ways to be creative in order to beat
the system," Gerke said.

   That includes, the U.S. Justice Dept. said, laundering profits from the pot smuggling by investing in the Hardwick property relatives had built. Court records show a transfer sale price of $200,000 to Aldrich, or "Ronnie Cash," as he was known on the streets.

  After his conviction, prosecutors said the smuggler forfeited well over $1-million in assets. That figure included cash, vehicles, and other properties. The Hardwick estate goes up for bids next Wednesday, with a minimum price of $70,000. "This is a relatively rare event," Gerke noted. Gerke explained that in addition to its best-known duties to seek fugitives and assist with transportation for suspects or prisoners, the U.S. Marshals Service also is responsible for seizing, maintaining, and disposing of assets belonging to convicts when court ruleings that dictate that as part of the ruleing.

   Prospective buyers of the Hardwick property must agree to one big caveat: Aldrich's mother and stepfather still live in the home. Under the court's property forfeiture order, the government agreed to let the tenants stay there as long as they want, or as long as they're both alive. "We're in good health now," said Aldrich's stepfather, Bill Hill. "We plan to be here a while, certainly."

   Hill remembered the man investigators knew as "Ronnie Cash" claimed he got his money through an insurance settlement for an injured ankle. "I guess I'm gullible," Hill said. "Someone tells me something, I believe him." For however long he wants to remain in the home, Hill, not its buyer, will have to maintain the property and pay taxes and insurance. Hill said he never suspected the deal was funded with drug money. "Matter of fact, I'd have disowned him if I knew what he was doing," Hill insisted.

   The property has been listed for sale before, and had no serious bidders. The requirement that the relatives may remain in the property could have been a possible reason, explained Tim Minoughan. He works for the Marshals Service's property sales contractor, CWS Marketing Group. In Vermont, Gerke said Marshals are currently managing more than $4.3-million in seized assets. To date, nearly $700,000 realized through seized assets sales has gone to state and local law enforcement agencies, Gerke added.

   In the case of the Hardwick property, the government does reserve the right to reject the winning bid if it does not feel it is sufficient, Gerke explained. Federal officials hope buyers see the Hardwick estate as a good investment, betting the land will appreciate in value over the years. The U.S. Marshals Service says proceeds from the auction will go toward