The affidavit says Worthington owned The affidavit says Worthington owned and operated a place called Sweet D’s in and operated a place called Sweet D’s in Paris, Texas, where federal authorities Paris, Texas, where federal authorities say a man named Bradley Lenington sold say a man named Bradley Lenington sold fake weed with such street names as fake weed with such street names as “Black Lion” and “Purefire” to undercover “Black Lion” and “Purefire” to undercover Paris police officers. Investigators Paris police officers. Investigators keeping an eye on the place for the last keeping an eye on the place for the last five months say they saw customers five months say they saw customers streaming in and out of Sweet D’s, with streaming in and out of Sweet D’s, with no one lingering longer than 60 seconds. no one lingering longer than 60 seconds. Says the affidavit, “The rush of vehicles Says the affidavit, “The rush of vehicles arriving and departing nearly caused arriving and departing nearly caused accidents on many occasions.” accidents on many occasions.” When they came out, says the affidavit, When they came out, says the affidavit, customers weren’t carrying anything. But customers weren’t carrying anything. But it didn’t take long to figure out what they it didn’t take long to figure out what they were doing: “Investigators often observed were doing: “Investigators often observed customers, and their drivers, immediately customers, and their drivers, immediately open packages and begin to smoke what open packages and begin to smoke what appeared to be self-rolled cigarettes appeared to be self-rolled cigarettes (joints) or small pipes, which is (joints) or small pipes, which is consistent with the consumption of a consistent with the consumption of a controlled substances, once they were controlled substances, once they were back in their vehicles.” back in their vehicles.” In May Lenington was pulled over at In May Lenington was pulled over at Sweet D’s after officers witnessed a Sweet D’s after officers witnessed a “hand-to-hand drug transaction.” They “hand-to-hand drug transaction.” They found “numerous packages of synthetic found “numerous packages of synthetic cannabis” and a locked money bag filled cannabis” and a locked money bag filled with $20 bills. But James Stuart didn’t with $20 bills. But James Stuart didn’t take kindly to the pull-over: He called take kindly to the pull-over: He called Paris Police Chief Bob Hundley to Paris Police Chief Bob Hundley to complain officers were harassing his complain officers were harassing his employee. employee. Five weeks later, the feds got involved, Five weeks later, the feds got involved, executing search warrants at the homes executing search warrants at the homes of Stuart, Lenington and Worthington —of Stuart, Lenington and Worthington —the latter of whom told DEA agents the latter of whom told DEA agents everything they wanted to know, everything they wanted to know, according to the affidavit. according to the affidavit. Worthington said that in January of last Worthington said that in January of last year, she and Stuart came to Dallas to year, she and Stuart came to Dallas to make their first bulk purchase from EZ make their first bulk purchase from EZ Way Smoke Shop. Initially they paid cash Way Smoke Shop. Initially they paid cash for the product, which cost $6.50 a gram, for the product, which cost $6.50 a gram, but eventually switched over to money but eventually switched over to money orders, cashier’s checks and finally orders, cashier’s checks and finally checks written straight from Sweeet D’s checks written straight from Sweeet D’s account. Authorities say that more than account. Authorities say that more than $80,000 in checks had been written to EZ $80,000 in checks had been written to EZ Way Smoke Shop since January of last Way Smoke Shop since January of last year. year. “Worthington admitted to investigators “Worthington admitted to investigators that they (everyone associated with that they (everyone associated with Sweet D’s) were aware that individuals Sweet D’s) were aware that individuals were smoking the producers they were were smoking the producers they were selling,” says the affidavit, “and that the selling,” says the affidavit, “and that the manufacturers were attempting to stay manufacturers were attempting to stay one step ahead of law enforcement by one step ahead of law enforcement by continuing to change the chemical make-continuing to change the chemical make-up of the product.” up of the product.” Lenington, who said he used to be the Lenington, who said he used to be the manager of Sweet D’s and worked for manager of Sweet D’s and worked for Stuart and Worthington, also spoke to Stuart and Worthington, also spoke to investigators and explained how the investigators and explained how the operation worked. operation worked. “According to Lennington, around “According to Lennington, around October 2012 and afterward, he October 2012 and afterward, he accompanied Stuart to purchase syntheic accompanied Stuart to purchase syntheic cannabis from EZ Way Smoke Shop on at cannabis from EZ Way Smoke Shop on at least five occasions,” says the affidavit. least five occasions,” says the affidavit. “The products were picked up in “The products were picked up in Lewisville, Texas, and the bulk product Lewisville, Texas, and the bulk product was packaged in 3 x 3 x 3 foot containers, was packaged in 3 x 3 x 3 foot containers, and some product was sent to and some product was sent to Worthington via FedEx from Arlington, Worthington via FedEx from Arlington, Texas. Lenington stated that each sale Texas. Lenington stated that each sale ranged from $50,000 – $150,000 and ranged from $50,000 – $150,000 and Stuart always paid in cash.” Stuart always paid in cash.” Sweet D’s closed June 6. After that, Sweet D’s closed June 6. After that, Lenington told investigators, he picked up Lenington told investigators, he picked up the fake weed from Stuart almost every the fake weed from Stuart almost every day and began selling “hand-to-hand.” day and began selling “hand-to-hand.” Stuart was arrested yesterday, and the Stuart was arrested yesterday, and the government is asking a judge to keep him government is asking a judge to keep him behind bars before his trial, insisting behind bars before his trial, insisting there is a “serious risk [he] will flee” there is a “serious risk [he] will flee” before then. before then. Reached by phone today, a manager at Reached by phone today, a manager at EZ Way Smoke Shop said the store EZ Way Smoke Shop said the store changed hands “a few months ago,” and changed hands “a few months ago,” and that “we don’t sell any type of potpourri or that “we don’t sell any type of potpourri or fake weed or anything like that. We might fake weed or anything like that. We might have a few months ago, but not have a few months ago, but not anymore.” anymore.”
Posted on: Fri, 28 Jun 2013 01:10:48 +0000
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