Mohammad Al Sharairei, K2 Sales, Iowa 2022
A man who sold K2 from a Cedar Rapids smoke shop and fled the country after being charged with federal drug crimes has been convicted by a jury, according to a federal indictment.
Mohammad Al Sharairei, age 47, was convicted of one count of maintaining a premises for the distribution of controlled substance analogues and one count of conspiring to distribute controlled substance analogues.
The verdict was returned after a four-day trial in federal court in Cedar Rapids, with the jury deliberating for about five hours.
The evidence at trial showed that in 2012 and 2013, Al Sharairei and his wife owned and operated a smoke shop on First Avenue in Cedar Rapids called Puff N Stuff II.
During a raid in June 2013, federal agents seized thousands of packets of K2, which were labeled as novelty items, potpourri, and incense.
The substances in the packages were determined to contain synthetic cannabinoids called PB-22 and 5F-PB-22, which are far more potent than marijuana and have been associated with severe psychological and physical effects, including death.
Seized store records from Puff N Stuff II showed that between January 2012 and June 26, 2013, the store had sold over $1.3 million in synthetic cannabinoid products.
Al Sharairei fled the country in 2014 after being charged and appearing in federal court, and remained a fugitive until he was extradited back to the United States from Brazil.
He faces a possible maximum sentence of 40 years' imprisonment, a $1,500,000 fine, and up to a lifetime of supervised release following any imprisonment.
He also faces up to $425,000 in forfeiture of proceeds of his drug operation.
Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand will be set after a presentence report is prepared.
Key Facts
- State: Iowa
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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