Seattle’s medical marijuana scene has been hit with a major setback as Jing Jing Mo, 32, was sentenced to 42 months in prison for drug dealing and money laundering. The court heard that Mo, who co-owned Seattle Cannabis Cooperative with locations in the Rainier Valley and Greenwood, was not just distributing cannabis but engaging in large-scale drug trafficking operations.
Mo and her partner, Craig Douglas Dieffenbach, 61, pleaded guilty last August to selling marijuana for profit under the guise of a cooperative meant to help sick people. Chief U.S. District Judge Marsha J. Pechman called their actions an abuse of public trust, noting that they distributed large amounts of marijuana without medical authorizations.
According to court documents, Mo admitted offering 25 pounds of marijuana for national distribution and laundering funds from the sale to pay for modifying homes for marijuana production. The couple was also linked to other drug traffickers, including one who distributed substantial amounts of ecstasy.
Prosecutors argued that Mo’s operation was not a legitimate medical dispensary but rather a cover for illegal drug dealing. ‘Ms. Mo was not engaged in some selfless attempt to help truly sick people access marijuana for medical purposes. Instead, she was simply dealing drugs, for profit, in blatant violation of both the letter and spirit of state and federal law,’ they said.
Mo is a citizen of Singapore and is expected to be deported following her prison term. The investigation into Mo’s activities was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with prosecution handled by Assistant United States Attorney Vince Lombardi.
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Key Facts
- State: Washington
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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