Silver Spring Nightclub Owner Admits to Massive Marijuana Smuggling Operation
In a shocking revelation, Jason Miskiri, the 39-year-old owner of the upscale nightclub Society Lounge in Silver Spring, Maryland, pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute over 1,000 kilograms of marijuana. This massive marijuana smuggling operation, which spanned multiple states, has left authorities stunned.
According to court documents, Miskiri obtained marijuana from several sources, including a notorious drug trafficking organization led by Garfield Mullings, for distribution in Maryland. He was arrested in March 2009 in Texas after purchasing 209 pounds of marijuana that he intended to transport to Maryland.
Miskiri’s connections with the Mullings DTO ran deep, with him receiving large quantities of marijuana from California and Arizona, which were shipped to him in Maryland using commercial shipping companies. The marijuana was initially sent to his restaurant, Island Flavors, in Laurel, Maryland, but later deliveries were made to other locations. Between 2010 and 2012, a staggering 8,690 pounds of freight, including marijuana, was delivered to the restaurant.
During his participation in the conspiracy, Miskiri was found to be responsible for the distribution of between 3,000 and 10,000 kilograms of marijuana. He used the proceeds from his illicit activities to open the Society Lounge, which raked in as much as $1 million in cash for each load of marijuana sold.
Miskiri’s plea agreement includes the forfeiture of his interest in the Society Lounge and payment of taxes for the years 2009 to the present. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced on September 14, 2015.
U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the efforts of HSI Baltimore, DEA, and the Maryland State Police in investigating this massive drug trafficking operation. The investigation also involved the Houston, Texas Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety, who provided valuable assistance.
In a related case, Garfield Mullings, the leader of the notorious DTO, pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute 100 kilograms or more of marijuana. Mullings was sentenced to five years in prison and ordered to forfeit $12,190,000.
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Key Facts
- State: Maryland
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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