O JMASTA R
Bluelighter
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- Apr 3, 2009
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http://www.news-leader.com/article/...ringfield-synthetic-marijuana-federal-arrests
For the first time ever, a Springfield business owner has been indicted for the distribution of synthetic drugs.
The federal indictment alleges that since 2009 three family members were involved in a $6.7 million scheme to distribute K2 through their Springfield business, ThirdEye. K2 is the common name for synthetic marijuana.
For years, local law enforcement have struggled to disrupt the synthetic drug trade in Springfield. Although products have been seized in bulk from local head shops and convenience stores, no charges had been filed against the shop owners.
“Those who profit from the sale of these dangerous and illegal substances are nothing more than drug traffickers. They may think they can skirt the letter of the law by tweaking a molecule or changing a chemical formula. But together with our law enforcement partners, we are combating this alarming trend and we will bring them to justice,” David M. Ketchmark, U. S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, said in a news release announcing the indictment.
Brandon D. Franklin, 26, his father, Douglas K. Franklin, 54, and his sister, Caitlyn E. Franklin, 24, all of Springfield, were charged in a three-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury on Tuesday. The indictment was unsealed and made public Friday after the trio were arrested and appeared in court.
The business, ThirdEye, is registered to a Springfield aprtment.
Each defendant is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
The indictment alleges that the drugs — under the name Kryp2nite — were shipped to several Springfield businesses, including Mr. Nice Guy, Good Vibes, Sunshine 1 and SRB Green Energy. Kryp2nite was also shipped to Mr. Nice Guy in Joplin, Ray’s Country Store in Mountain Grove, and Country Express in Mountain Grove, according to the feds.
The indictment also calls for the forfeiture of $6,760,041, real estate in Springfield, Rogersville, Springfield, Ore., and Redding, Calif.; a 2010 Toyota Tacoma; the funds from several bank accounts totaling more than $535,000; and investment funds totaling more than $318,000.
An especially dangerous category of synthetic drugs — stimulants known as “bath salts” — were not mentioned in the news release announcing the indictment.
This case is being prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. Oliver. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Jasper County Drug Task Force, the South Central Drug Task Force, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Springfield, Mo., Police Department the Newton County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department and the and the Greene County, Mo., Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
Here is the pdf for the federal indictment
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...ozoVPdcM7QmzNtqEw&sig2=_KugwdsRh6-hYE7YH83X8A
For the first time ever, a Springfield business owner has been indicted for the distribution of synthetic drugs.
The federal indictment alleges that since 2009 three family members were involved in a $6.7 million scheme to distribute K2 through their Springfield business, ThirdEye. K2 is the common name for synthetic marijuana.
For years, local law enforcement have struggled to disrupt the synthetic drug trade in Springfield. Although products have been seized in bulk from local head shops and convenience stores, no charges had been filed against the shop owners.
“Those who profit from the sale of these dangerous and illegal substances are nothing more than drug traffickers. They may think they can skirt the letter of the law by tweaking a molecule or changing a chemical formula. But together with our law enforcement partners, we are combating this alarming trend and we will bring them to justice,” David M. Ketchmark, U. S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, said in a news release announcing the indictment.
Brandon D. Franklin, 26, his father, Douglas K. Franklin, 54, and his sister, Caitlyn E. Franklin, 24, all of Springfield, were charged in a three-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury on Tuesday. The indictment was unsealed and made public Friday after the trio were arrested and appeared in court.
The business, ThirdEye, is registered to a Springfield aprtment.
Each defendant is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
The indictment alleges that the drugs — under the name Kryp2nite — were shipped to several Springfield businesses, including Mr. Nice Guy, Good Vibes, Sunshine 1 and SRB Green Energy. Kryp2nite was also shipped to Mr. Nice Guy in Joplin, Ray’s Country Store in Mountain Grove, and Country Express in Mountain Grove, according to the feds.
The indictment also calls for the forfeiture of $6,760,041, real estate in Springfield, Rogersville, Springfield, Ore., and Redding, Calif.; a 2010 Toyota Tacoma; the funds from several bank accounts totaling more than $535,000; and investment funds totaling more than $318,000.
An especially dangerous category of synthetic drugs — stimulants known as “bath salts” — were not mentioned in the news release announcing the indictment.
This case is being prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. Oliver. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Jasper County Drug Task Force, the South Central Drug Task Force, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Springfield, Mo., Police Department the Newton County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department and the and the Greene County, Mo., Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
Here is the pdf for the federal indictment
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...ozoVPdcM7QmzNtqEw&sig2=_KugwdsRh6-hYE7YH83X8A
