ALBANY — Three people charged as being co-conspirators in a multi-state marijuana growing operation were arraigned in federal court Thursday with all three pleading not guilty.

Michael Dean Slaymaker, Riley McDaniel and Ed Thomas “Trey” Fulford were all advised of the charges against them and all entered not-guilty pleas before Federal Magistrate G. Mallon Faircloth Thursday morning.

They are three defendants embroiled in what the U.S. Attorney’s Office has described as the “1,000-plant conspiracy.”

So far, more than a dozen accused of conspiracy have stood before federal judges in three different Georgia cities to answer the charges in connection with the marijuana grow operation that was discovered last summer in Lee and Terrell counties.

While McDaniel and Slaymaker made their first appearances in Albany’s federal courthouse Thursday, it was Fulford second time before a federal magistrate.

Originally indicted for helping conceal the grow operation from investigators, Fulford was indicted again last month for lying to a grand jury and possession of marijuana.

In the new indictment, Fulford is charged with making false statements to investigators, perjury, obstruction of justice, and misprision of a felony, court officials said. He was also indicted on a misdemeanor count of possession of marijuana.

McDaniel, who had been sitting in the Dooly County Jail awaiting his trip to Albany, answered his indictment Thursday, which included charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 1,000 plants of marijuana. A conviction on the charge carries a sentence of 10 years to life in prison and a $4 million fine.

If McDaniel is convicted, government officials have also announced their intentions to seize assets they believe he obtained through drug money.

He also entered a not guilty plea and waived his right to a bond.

Slaymaker, who agents believe was selling drugs at his mother’s Dawson Road bar according to court documents, pleaded not guilty to a felony count of conspiracy to manufacture marijuana, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $4 million fine.