Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges of Conspiracy to Distribute Synthetic Marijuana

June 20, 2012 4:24 PM Topics: Controlled substances, Diversion, and Federal regulations

Florida resident Joel Lester pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute synthetic marijuana on Friday, June 8, 2012, before the US District Judge Kenneth A. Marra. DEA reports that Lester owned Nature and Health, a business in Boca Raton, FL, “through which he marketed and sold synthetic marijuana products to convenience stores and gas stations where the products were then made available for sale to members of the general public.” Many of the synthetic marijuana products marketed and sold by Lester contained substances that are illegal under the DEA emergency ban on synthetic drugs effective March 1, 2011. According to the plea agreement, during the course of the conspiracy, Lester knowingly distributed and possessed with the intent to distribute at least 10 kilograms, but not more than 20 kilograms, of banned synthetic marijuana products, indicates DEA. As part of his plea agreement, Lester agreed to forfeit $300,000. Sentencing has been scheduled for August 24, 2012, and Lester faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $1,000,000. Additional information is provided in a DEA news release.