Related Federal Cases
- Frank R. Johnson, Heroin Kingpin Sentenced, Elkville IL, 2023 · Illinois
- Flint Drug Kingpin Sentenced to Federal Prison · Illinois
- Port Arthur Man Jailed in Synthetic Weed Ring · Pennsylvania
- Jasper Narcotics Kingpin Hadnot Indicted for Death Deals · Illinois
- Palestine Drug Kingpin Sentenced to Federal Prison · Illinois
Synthetic Cannabinoids Kingpin Brought to Justice
A federal jury has returned a guilty verdict against Abdul G. Alsamah, 51, formerly of Springfield, Illinois, for his role in a large-scale synthetic cannabinoids distribution ring. Alsamah, who was taken into custody after the verdict, faces up to twenty years in prison at sentencing on October 22, 2021, at the U.S. Courthouse in Springfield.
The jury found Alsamah guilty of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, distribution of a controlled substance, and possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute. The charges stem from Alsamah’s involvement in distributing synthetic cannabinoids, also known as K2 or spice, to individuals in Sangamon County between November 2014 and March 2016.
Prosecutors presented evidence that Alsamah conspired with his co-defendant, Letha Dean, to distribute the highly addictive and potentially deadly substances from the Crossing Two liquor store and Mystic Enchantments, both run by Alsamah in Springfield.
The investigation, led by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Springfield Division, uncovered a complex network of defendants involved in the distribution of synthetic cannabinoids. Eight other defendants have been convicted and sentenced in related cases, while two others, including Dean, have been convicted but await sentencing.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy A. Bass and Tanner K. Jacobs represented the federal government at trial, with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Springfield Division, the Springfield Police Department, the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Department, the Illinois Department of Revenue, the Illinois Secretary of State, and the Illinois State Police.
The Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program, which conducted the investigation, is a Department of Justice initiative that brings together law enforcement agencies to combat high-level members of drug trafficking organizations.
As Alsamah awaits sentencing, the community is breathing a sigh of relief that justice has been served. The synthetic cannabinoids trade has wreaked havoc on the streets of Springfield, and this conviction is a significant step towards reclaiming the city’s neighborhoods from the grip of organized crime.
Key Facts
- State: Illinois
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
