14 sentenced in alleged synthetic drug distribution ring
JACKSON, Tenn. — Fourteen members of an alleged drug ring manufacturing and distributing what is commonly called synthetic marijuana and bath salts have been sentenced to federal prison.
The suspects were involved in manufacturing and distributing hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of synthetic cannabinoids, designed to simulate marijuana and sold under names including “spice” or “K2,” and synthetic cathinones, which are designed to simulate cocaine or methamphetamine and are commonly called “bath salts,” according to a release from the office of U.S. Attorney Edward L. Stanton.
Defendants involved with the drug ring either manufactured, distributed or obtained drugs and/or wired currency and deposited money into bank accounts to further the conspiracy, the release states.
Some of the defendants worked as owners, managers and retail clerks at Jackson area gas stations and convenience stores.
Officers with the Jackson Metro Narcotics Unit seized packages of synthetic drugs in February 2011 and February 2012.
In the summer of 2012, officers intercepted packages from the U.S . Postal Service and FedEx containing Schedule I drugs and analogues, according to the release. Investigators determined Hassan Safa obtained the raw chemicals from China. The chemicals reportedly were being cooked or manufactured at office buildings Hassan Safa owned in Jackson, and he allegedly supplied various stores with the drugs to sell, according to the release.
Below are the defendants and their respective sentences. Booking photos were not included with the release.
Saed Abdeljawwad: 24 months, 2 years supervised release
Mohammed Sadek: 12 months, 2 years supervised release
Ali Safa: 6 months, 6 months home detention, 2 years supervised release
Mohammed Khalil: 60 months, 3 years supervised release
Ehab “Mark” Rezk: 30 months, 3 years supervised release
Hussein Salloukh: 48 months, 3 years supervised release
Nazem Salloukh: 36 months, 3 years supervised release
Ahmed “Eddie” Elsebae: 48 months, 3 years supervised release
Akram Nagi: 6 months, 2 years supervised release
Paula Neil Kirk: 2 years probation, 6 months home detention
Irene Rosas-Montalvo: Time served, 12 months supervised release
Deok Hee “Simon” Han: 27 months, 3 years supervised release
Hani Tarhini: 2 years probation, 6 months home detention
See Wan “Steven” Kang: 2 years probation, 6 months home detention
Hassan “Sam” Safa: Fugitive
Mahmoud “Steve” Safa: Fugitive
You can read the full three-page release from the U.S. attorney’s office here.
