CINCINNATI --

A Cincinnati firefighter was among 13 people charged Thursday in connection with a Tri-state marijuana distribution ring.

Michael Ferguson, a 22-year-veteran firefighter, was suspended Friday without pay after he was charged with eight federal counts, including conspiracy to distribute marijuana and money laundering.

Fergusons nephew, Maurice Ferguson, was arrested at his Florence clothing store and charged with heading up an operation that authorities said shipped drugs from southern California to the Cincinnati area.

Federal agents said the Fergusons distributed more than 100 kilograms of marijuana as part of an operation that distributed $4 million of the drug each month, but the firefighters lawyer disputed the charges.

He is now lumped into this big conspiracy, and we are looking forward to the day we can get our opportunity in court to prove that he is innocent of these charges, said attorney Wende Cross.

Investigators said Maurice Ferguson used his 513 Clothing Store in Walnut Hills as a front to make deals with drug distributors and launder the operations proceeds.

We figure them to be one of the largest ever in this area, and it's been ongoing for years, said Russ Neville of the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Authorities charged 11 other people in connection with the operation.