A Lafayette attorney has been sentenced to 121 months in prison for his role in a large-scale synthetic drug conspiracy and money laundering operation, the Grimy Times has learned.
Daniel James Stanford, 57, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote for one count of conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance analogue, one count of conspiracy to introduce or cause to be introduced misbranded drugs into interstate commerce, one count of conspiracy to launder money, and five counts of money laundering.
The scheme, which was uncovered in September 2012, involved the distribution of synthetic cannabinoids, often referred to as ‘spice’ or ‘K2,’ through a network of stores in Acadiana, including Curious Goods LLC in Lafayette. The product, marketed as ‘Mr. Miyagi,’ was sold as a potpourri but was actually infused with synthetic cannabinoids, which are considered Schedule I controlled dangerous substances under federal law.
According to court documents, Curious Goods stores made approximately $5 million from the sale of ‘Mr. Miyagi’ between March 1, 2011, and December 31, 2011. Stanford, who represented himself at trial, was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute synthetic drugs, conspiracy to introduce misbranded drugs into interstate commerce, and money laundering after an eight-day trial and six hours of deliberation by a federal jury.
Stanford was also ordered to serve six years of supervised release. The other defendants involved in the scheme, including Alexander Derrick Reece, Drew T. Green, Thomas William Malone Jr., Boyd Anthony Barrow, Joshua Espinoza, Richard Joseph Buswell, and Daniel Paul Francis, were sentenced on December 16, 2014.
The synthetic cannabinoids used to manufacture ‘Mr. Miyagi’ were obtained from NutraGenomics, a company based in Alpharetta, Georgia, which was controlled by co-conspirators Green and Malone. Pinnacle Products LLC/Pinnacle Products Group, based in Marietta, Georgia, was the manufacturer of the ‘Mr. Miyagi’ products and supplied them to the local Curious Goods stores.
Stanford’s involvement in the scheme was exposed through testimony from over 30 witnesses and exhibits introduced at trial, which showed that ‘Mr. Miyagi’ was specifically labeled ‘not for human consumption’ but was sold as a product that would be smoked by users to get high.
The evidence also demonstrated that the product was packaged to be intentionally false and misleading, marketed as potpourri. Stanford knew the product was being consumed by humans, that it was harmful and not a scent refresher, and that the product was marketed to youthful customers, the trial revealed.
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Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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