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The West Hollywood medical marijuana dispensary that came under heavy scrutiny due to the April arrest of its owner on 47 counts of arson, attempted murder and related charges, Zen Healing Collective, shut down yesterday after another federal search warrant was served.
In early April, agents serving search warrants seized approximately 352,700 grams of marijuana, approximately 44,660 grams of hashish, approximately 12,310 grams of hash oil, approximately 216,860 grams of various edibles containing marijuana, and $92,962 United States Currency from Zen Healing.
A normal "take" in these kinds of raids, say dispensary operators — a cost of doing business. The US Attorney's office says that this search warrant's "take" will be available next week, but more than just removing drugs and cash and paraphernalia from circulation, the operation Thursday sought documents.
According to the US Attorney's office spokesperson, Andrew Kramer is a national, nay even an international, marijuana king-pin, and they are out to prove it.
This is what the feds charge: "Andrew Kramer is the head of a marijuana trafficking organization ("DTO") operating in the Los Angeles, California area that distributes marijuana retail through his store locations, as well as, wholesale to other marijuana stores.
"[Mr.] Kramer also directed and/or is involved in the distribution of marijuana to other areas of the United States, including New Jersey, South Carolina, and North Carolina."
Mr. Kramer, who sits in the Los Angeles jail awaiting trial on those four dozen or so charges, also stands accused of "marijuana trafficking" by Patrick L. Kelly, Special Agent for the DEA's anti-marijuana task force.
The search warrant says that since 2006 the DEA has held "several enforcement actions... against Kramer's drug trafficking operation" but Zen Healing continues to operate, apparently forcing their hand.
It may also have been a fishing expedition, suggest sources close to the situation who would comment only on condition of anonymity.
The search warrant charges that Mr. Kramer "resorted to violence, including... home invasions and arson.. in order to retaliate against business associates with whom he has had disagreements related to his drug trafficking operation."
The DEA "has better things to do than go after a petty gangster," one source said. He compared the operation to farming, naturally. "They are after the plant, root and all."
They also want to find the money. The search warrant says " As a likely result [emphasis ours] of multiple monetary seizures by law enforcement during the last several years and his arrest in April 2013 on arson and attempted murder related charges being currently prosecuted by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, [Mr.] Kramer has taken several measures to hide the existence of his assets with the use of family members, businesses, and in and out of state corporations."
Another line asks agents to keep an eye out for international pots of gold. Apparently Mr. Kramer sought to expand his operations into Brazil, probably farming it there; the DEA wants to know more.
The case the DEA seems to be trying to cast Mr. Kramer as a modern marijuana mobster posing as a medical marijuana dispensary operator.
Yet Mr. Kelly brings to the fore financial evidence showing that since 2006 in excess of $2.25 million in marijuana-derived money have been seized from Mr. Kramer by the federal government, including one $1.25 million seizure in 2011.
The dispensary has been closed since the raid; phone calls are not answered.
Mr. Kramer's attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
News Hawk- Truth Seeker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: wehonews.com
Author: WeHo News Staff
Contact: WeHo News
Website: Zen Healing Collective shut down
In early April, agents serving search warrants seized approximately 352,700 grams of marijuana, approximately 44,660 grams of hashish, approximately 12,310 grams of hash oil, approximately 216,860 grams of various edibles containing marijuana, and $92,962 United States Currency from Zen Healing.
A normal "take" in these kinds of raids, say dispensary operators — a cost of doing business. The US Attorney's office says that this search warrant's "take" will be available next week, but more than just removing drugs and cash and paraphernalia from circulation, the operation Thursday sought documents.
According to the US Attorney's office spokesperson, Andrew Kramer is a national, nay even an international, marijuana king-pin, and they are out to prove it.
This is what the feds charge: "Andrew Kramer is the head of a marijuana trafficking organization ("DTO") operating in the Los Angeles, California area that distributes marijuana retail through his store locations, as well as, wholesale to other marijuana stores.
"[Mr.] Kramer also directed and/or is involved in the distribution of marijuana to other areas of the United States, including New Jersey, South Carolina, and North Carolina."
Mr. Kramer, who sits in the Los Angeles jail awaiting trial on those four dozen or so charges, also stands accused of "marijuana trafficking" by Patrick L. Kelly, Special Agent for the DEA's anti-marijuana task force.
The search warrant says that since 2006 the DEA has held "several enforcement actions... against Kramer's drug trafficking operation" but Zen Healing continues to operate, apparently forcing their hand.
It may also have been a fishing expedition, suggest sources close to the situation who would comment only on condition of anonymity.
The search warrant charges that Mr. Kramer "resorted to violence, including... home invasions and arson.. in order to retaliate against business associates with whom he has had disagreements related to his drug trafficking operation."
The DEA "has better things to do than go after a petty gangster," one source said. He compared the operation to farming, naturally. "They are after the plant, root and all."
They also want to find the money. The search warrant says " As a likely result [emphasis ours] of multiple monetary seizures by law enforcement during the last several years and his arrest in April 2013 on arson and attempted murder related charges being currently prosecuted by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, [Mr.] Kramer has taken several measures to hide the existence of his assets with the use of family members, businesses, and in and out of state corporations."
Another line asks agents to keep an eye out for international pots of gold. Apparently Mr. Kramer sought to expand his operations into Brazil, probably farming it there; the DEA wants to know more.
The case the DEA seems to be trying to cast Mr. Kramer as a modern marijuana mobster posing as a medical marijuana dispensary operator.
Yet Mr. Kelly brings to the fore financial evidence showing that since 2006 in excess of $2.25 million in marijuana-derived money have been seized from Mr. Kramer by the federal government, including one $1.25 million seizure in 2011.
The dispensary has been closed since the raid; phone calls are not answered.
Mr. Kramer's attorney did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
News Hawk- Truth Seeker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: wehonews.com
Author: WeHo News Staff
Contact: WeHo News
Website: Zen Healing Collective shut down
