IRWIN — Attorney General Dave Sunday, in conjunction with federal, state, and local partners, announced charges against 12 people — the culmination of a long-term investigation of high-potency THC products sold in stores across Pennsylvania.
The 12 defendants were part of a criminal organization that trafficked marijuana and other high-level THC products from warehouses to convenience stores.
Several members of the group are also charged with laundering millions of dollars connected to the illegal profits, primarily using LLC fronts to mask the sources of income, often cash deposits. Investigators traced about $18.7 million to illegal proceeds.
All 12 defendants have been arraigned on the charges, which include corrupt organizations and dealing in proceeds of illegal activity. Many are also charged with felony drug-trafficking offenses.
“This criminal enterprise took deliberate steps to distribute these illegal narcotics, statewide, then to conceal the millions and millions of dollars they profited from the scheme,” Attorney General Sunday said. “Many of the products seized over the course of this investigation were packaged and flavored to attract children. Collaboration with law enforcement partners led to the takedown of this sophisticated network in the form of very serious charges.”
The Office of Attorney General was assisted by numerous agencies and a statewide investigating grand jury that returned a recommendation of criminal charges last month.
During the investigation, agents seized approximately 150,000 items from three warehouse locations that served as the primary distribution hubs — in Plum Borough, Allegheny County; Pittston, Luzerne County; and Bensalem, Bucks County.
Investigators also served search warrants at convenience stores and smoke shops across the Commonwealth.
Charged are:
- Albina Kumar
- Duttkumar Patel
- Dharmeshkumar Patel
- Madhav Patel
- Nirav Patel
- Palak Patel
- Divyesh Patel
- Ketankumar Patel
- Niravkumar Vora
- Roshniben Patel
- Ankitkumar Patel
- Mitul Patel
Assisting in the investigation were: Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office, Allegheny County DANET, Westmoreland County District Attorney’s Office, Bucks County District Attorney’s Office, Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office, Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, Chester County District Attorney’s Office, and Lackawanna County District Attorney’s Office.
Also assisting were police departments from: Plum Borough, Penn Township, North Huntingdon, Bensalem Township, Penn Hills, Greensburg, Lower Burrell, Mt. Pleasant Murrysville, Latrobe, Bristol Township, Jenkins Township, Lower Moreland, Cranberry Township, Moosic, and Monroeville, and Westmoreland County Drug Task Force, Westmoreland County Sheriff’s Department, and the Pennsylvania State Police.
Federal partners Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, and U.S. Postal Inspectors also assisted.
The prosecutions will be led by Senior Deputy Attorney General Rachel Wheeler. Criminal charges, and any discussion thereof, are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
###
