Two men indicted on 169 charges in alleged ‘spice’ enterprise in Colorado
Two men have been indicted on 169 counts in an alleged synthetic cannabinoid enterprise that operated in the Denver area and across state lines and which authorities say included the manufacture, distribution and sale of laced herbal cigarettes.
Michael Jamal Whitney, 35, and John Palmer Swanson, 33, are accused of a litany of charges, including violations of the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act.
Other counts in the indictment include money laundering and distribution of synthetic cannabinoids, also known as spice.
The 120-page indictment was announced Wednesday by the 1st Judicial District Attorneys Office in Jefferson County, which says the enterprise operated between April 2014 and July.
The grand jury alleges Whitney operator of Integral Industries, LLC and Swanson who ran What U Tokin Bout, LLC conspired to make Next Best Thing, a synthetic cannabinoid cigarette brand, and distribute it to smoke stores in Colorado and throughout the country.
Prosecutors say Whitney and Swanson are alleged to have worked together to develop and manufacture NBT. Officials claim Swansons company was primary distributor of the product and the two men conspired and agreed to keep their enterprise working, producing and selling NBT to the general public with knowledge that it contained synthetic cannabinoids.
During the course of the investigation law enforcement officials in other states seized NBT from retail stores and tested the cigarettes for illegal substances, the indictment says. These seized NBT cigarettes tested positive for synthetic cannabinoids.
It adds: Despite the seizures by law enforcement, Integral and WUTB continued to distribute NBT herbal cigarettes.
The indictment outlines thousands and thousands of dollars in transactions involving the men and synthetic cannabinoids. Product traced backed to the group was found in Denver, Jefferson County, Parker and Sterling, authorities say.
Further, law enforcement traced back synthetic cannabinoids in Utah, Wyoming, Texas, Ohio, Tennessee and Nebraska to the enterprise.
The indictment says Whitneys synthetic cannabinoid-laced cigarrettes were sold in a variety of ...
