The owners of a Gloucester store that sold synthetic marijuana and amphetamines were each sentenced September 8th to ten years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and were ordered to forfeit $425,000 as proceeds of their drug distribution activities.
Daniel Bray, 34, and Rachel Webb-Harvey, 25, both of Gloucester, pleaded guilty in September 2013 to conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, analogue drugs as the owners of the store “A Lil’ of This, a Lil’ of That” in Gloucester.
According to court records, from January to July 2012, the defendants sold a variety of analogue drugs commonly referred to as “Spice,” the generic street name for synthetic cannabinoids that mimic the physical effects of marijuana, and “Bath Salts,” which contain substituted cathinones that have effects similar to amphetamines.
Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, made the announcement after the sentences were imposed by U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson.
Five other defendants were sentenced previously for their roles in the conspiracy. Those defendants include Jose N. Alvarado, who was sentenced to seven years in prison; Sandra A. Webb, who received 56 months; Shawn R. Woodlen, who received 50 months; Jeromy L. Hawk, who received ten months; and Jeffery A. Fowlkes, who received five months in prison.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, IRS-Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Virginia State Police Tri-Rivers and Peninsula Task Forces, the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations, and the Gloucester County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric M. Hurt prosecuted the case.
Another seven Gloucester residents were indicted on charges that they sold Spice and bath salts from a store called “Hazy Dayz” on Route 17. Jessica Faye Rabineau, Ryan David Fernandes, Rodney Lee Beggs, Cameron Shawn Rabineau, Althea Nicole Hopkins and Stacie Jo Hopkins are all awaiting trial in January.
