Biloxi city councilman pleads guilty in conspiracy involving vape stores
Robert Leon Deming III arrested in 2020 MBN investigation
A Biloxi city councilman has pleaded guilty to charges connected to a conspiracy involving vape stores. According to the U.S. District Attorney’s Office in Gulfport, Robert Leon Deming III, 47, pleaded guilty to federal charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a Schedule I controlled substance.Deming founded the Candy Shop LLC in 2019 to operate Candy Shop stores in Mississippi and North Carolina, to sell CBD and vape products, according to court documents. In 2020, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and Drug Enforcement Administration began investigating the Candy Shop, which revealed that some of the vape products sold there contained Schedule I controlled substances. In 2022, the DEA also received complaints that some of the Candy Shop products were making customers sick.MBN agents obtained warrants, which were executed on Jan. 26, 2023, at the Candy Shop locations and at Deming’s home. During the searches, agents seized more than $1.8 million in cash from Deming’s home and additional cash and controlled substances from his stores.“As the investigation continued, agents learned that Deming was aware that his vape additives did not contain CBD; rather, they contained synthetic cannabinoids,” federal prosecutors said in a release. “This was evidenced by group chats in which Deming’s employees complained about how the additives were too strong and could hurt their customers. Despite this fact, Deming misbranded the additives as containing CBD.”Agents also determined that in May 2022, Deming paid $2,200 to an “uncharged coconspirator” for the purchase of 1 kilogram of “5F-AB-PINACA, a Schedule I controlled substance,” which was used as an additive in the Candy Shop’s products. “At the time Deming sent the money, he knew that 5F-AB-PINACA was a controlled substance,” prosecutors said.Investigators said the gross sale of the vape additive products totaled more than $2 million. Deming was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2023.As part of the plea agreement in this case, Deming agreed to forfeit a yellow Monster Truck with oversized tires and a lift kit and over $1.9 million. His sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 13.
GULFPORT, Miss. —
A Biloxi city councilman has pleaded guilty to charges connected to a conspiracy involving vape stores.
According to the U.S. District Attorney’s Office in Gulfport, Robert Leon Deming III, 47, pleaded guilty to federal charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a Schedule I controlled substance.
Deming founded the Candy Shop LLC in 2019 to operate Candy Shop stores in Mississippi and North Carolina, to sell CBD and vape products, according to court documents.
In 2020, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and Drug Enforcement Administration began investigating the Candy Shop, which revealed that some of the vape products sold there contained Schedule I controlled substances. In 2022, the DEA also received complaints that some of the Candy Shop products were making customers sick.
MBN agents obtained warrants, which were executed on Jan. 26, 2023, at the Candy Shop locations and at Deming’s home. During the searches, agents seized more than $1.8 million in cash from Deming’s home and additional cash and controlled substances from his stores.
“As the investigation continued, agents learned that Deming was aware that his vape additives did not contain CBD; rather, they contained synthetic cannabinoids,” federal prosecutors said in a release. “This was evidenced by group chats in which Deming’s employees complained about how the additives were too strong and could hurt their customers. Despite this fact, Deming misbranded the additives as containing CBD.”
Agents also determined that in May 2022, Deming paid $2,200 to an “uncharged coconspirator” for the purchase of 1 kilogram of “5F-AB-PINACA, a Schedule I controlled substance,” which was used as an additive in the Candy Shop’s products.
“At the time Deming sent the money, he knew that 5F-AB-PINACA was a controlled substance,” prosecutors said.
Investigators said the gross sale of the vape additive products totaled more than $2 million. Deming was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2023.
As part of the plea agreement in this case, Deming agreed to forfeit a yellow Monster Truck with oversized tires and a lift kit and over $1.9 million. His sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 13.
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