CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – The Graziano brothers have been hit with a heavy punch from the law as Nicholas Graziano, 53, of Melville, New York, and Stephen Graziano, 25, of Morgantown, West Virginia, were both convicted of distributing synthetic marijuana, better known on the streets as spice or K2.
This crime syndicate, operating under the guise of a hookah lounge – X Hale Hookah Lounge in Morgantown – was allegedly spreading designer drugs from July 2012 through April 2014. These synthetic cannabinoids mimic the effects of controlled substances, creating a dangerous and unpredictable situation for users.
The Grazianos’ conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance analogue has led them down a path of potentially decades behind bars. Both men pled guilty on March 27, 2017, to one count each of the charge, with sentences up to twenty years in prison and fines reaching $1,000,000.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda E. Wesley is the legal muscle behind this case for the government, while the Mon Metro Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, a HIDTA-funded initiative, did the heavy lifting on the investigation front. The severity of their offenses will determine the final sentences, under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The trial was presided over by U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keeley, ensuring that justice would be served in this gritty drug case.
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Key Facts
- State: West Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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