Trouble mounts for accused co-conspirator in federal synthetic pot case

ABC 17 News has learned more information about a man accused of being a part of a Boone County synthetic pot operation.

ABC 17 News reported Thursday that the owner of Mari’s gas station in Boone County, Rafiqul Kahn, was federally indicted for his alleged role in a conspiracy to sell synthetic marijuana.

We’ve now learned more about Wesley Upchurch, one of Kahn’s accused co-conspirators. Upchurch is already involved in a another federal case.

Upchurch was federally indicted in October of 2014 for the same type of operation.

According to the 2014 indictment, Upchurch registered several fake business names with the Missouri Secretary of State in 2012: “Impulse Market, LLC” and “Two River Enterprises, LLC.”

He also had connections to the Puff N Snuff smoke shop in Eldon, according to the indictment.

ABC 17’s Jillian Fertig did some research on Upchurch and learned he was a prominent figure in the Boone County area.

He owned the now closed Gunther’s Games in downtown Columbia.

He ran as a Boone County Republican Recorder candidate but was disqualified in 2014 because of unpaid taxes.

He unsuccessfully ran as a candidate for the Missouri Secretary of State in 2008.

He was a volunteer firefighter with the Boone County Fire Protection District until he quit attending required training in 2010. He was officially released from the department in 2011.

He was also an Eagle Scout.

Upchurch was given was given no bond in the October 2014 indictment.

ABC 17 News reported last summer the Puff N Snuff smoke shop was raided by police in the summer of 2014, but re-opened the day after the raid.

ABC 17 News called the number listed for Puff N Snuff Friday, but the number was disconnected.