CASSOPOLIS — A husband and wife responsible for one of the largest methamphetamine operations in the history of Cass County are headed to prison.

Brent and Tiffany Gillesby, of Dowagiac, both pleaded guilty to operating a meth lab involving hazardous waste in June. Brent was sentenced Friday in Cass County Circuit Court to three to 20 years in prison with credit for two days already served. Tiffany, who was not involved with cooking the meth but provided the materials and used it, got a more lenient two- to 20-year sentence with two days credit.

In March the Cass County Drug Enforcement Team executed a search warrant at the Gillesby home on W. Wayne Street in Dowagiac and discovered 25 one-pot meth labs and drug paraphernalia. The couple’s 5-month-old child was also in the home at the time.

“In my eight-plus-year career in Cass County, there was only one (meth operation) larger,” Prosecutor Victor Fitz said. “This was one of the largest in the history of Cass County.”

Adding to the danger, Fitz said, was that the couple was producing the meth in a residential area.

“It’s bad enough when someone in a rural area is making this poison. But to bring it into a congested area…you are just asking for trouble,” Fitz said.

Defense attorney Gary Stewart said the situation was a drug habit that “got out of control.”

“It doesn’t make any sense to give up on him and lock him up and throw away the key,” Stewart said in defense of Brent, adding that he is a working man with children.

Brent was apologetic in his comments and said the crime has torn his family apart.

“The toughest thing I’ve ever done is to explain to (my children) why I am going to prison,” Brent said. “I want to be in their lives while they’re still young.”

Judge Michael Dodge said he hopes Brent can turn his life around.

“You are a talented individual, a smart man and have a lot going for you. All you have to do is kick this habit, which is a tall order,” he said. “Hopefully your wife and children will be enough motivation.”

In his defense of Tiffany, Stewart pointed out she has no criminal history and that her involvement in the crime was less than her husband.

Tiffany declined to speak in court.