Columbia man admits to marijuana conspiracy

The son of a Columbia coffee shop owner pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to being part of a conspiracy to sell marijuana.

Nader Robert Osama Yanis, 24, was indicted March 1 after a raid at the home of his father, Osama Yanis, who owned Coffee Zone. Osama Yanis pleaded guilty Dec. 4 to marijuana distribution conspiracy and possessing guns in furtherance of a drug trafficking conspiracy.

The two were arrested Feb. 19 after law enforcement officers witnessed the delivery of a crate with 72 pounds of “high grade” marijuana to the residence, the U.S. attorney’s office said in a news release. Officers seized $72,000 from a large gun safe inside the home that also contained seven guns, the release said. Osama Yanis also turned over about $20,000 that was in his possession, according to the release.

Nader Yanis is subject to a sentence of up to 20 years in prison without parole under federal sentencing laws. A sentencing hearing has not been scheduled.

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