14 sentenced in Jackson synthetic drug investigation
Two year investigation sends 14 people to Federal prison
JACKSON, Tenn.- This is just some of the synthetic marijuana known as K-2, seized when officers arrested 14 people in February of 2012. Friday, the suspects learned their fate.
As a group, they’ll spend more than 20 years in federal prison for their involvement in two-year, multi-agency investigation known as Desert Spice.
“These types of investigations are very complicated when you’re trying to fill in the patch work of the individuals involved across the country and again having international ties,” said Edward L. Stanton III, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee. “We are pleased that we’re bring the justice to individuals who quite frankly are drug dealers.”
Stanton says the suspects made these toxic drugs in Jackson and sold their products to stores across the state, throughout the country and internationally.
Learning more about synthetic drugs, Stanton said could save our children.
“Parents should be aware that this is going on,” said Stanton. “It sounds fun, it seems like a lot of people are doing this now. But the reality is, this is poison that is being ingested by, again, some of our most vulnerable our children.”
Although most members of this drug ring are in federal prison, the ring leader Hassan “Sam” Safa, who officials say is the largest synthetic drug distributor in the country, is still on the loose.
“You may get by but ultimately you will not get away,” Stanton said. “We’re going to remain steadfast and vigilant with bringing those individuals involved in the synthetic drug trade bringing them to justice just as in this case.”
