Mid-Missouri gas station owner accused by feds of selling fake pot
Officials say the owner of a Boone County convenience store is facing federal charges for his role in a conspiracy to sell synthetic marijuana since 2011. A grand jury handed down five counts against Rafiqul Khan, who owns Mari’s Gas Station near Rangeline and Prathersville Road just north of Columbia.
Khan was arrested on Tuesday, when the federal indictment was unsealed. Investigators claim Khan sold items produced and packaged by Wesley Upchurch and others in Mid-Missouri.
Law enforcement think Upchurch made the fake pot after importing mis-labled chemicals including UR-144 and AM-2201 from China and other countries. They apparently used a warehouse located at 543 Highway J south of Harrisburg, among other places. The substance was packaged in two, three, or four grams and sold under labels including Mayan, 4Bidden and Remix.
The suspects in the illegal ring include Wesley Upchurch, Sharon and Mitchell Harrington Sr. Their synthetic cannabinoid was allegedly sold to retail stores including Mari’s under several business names.
Those include Pandora Potpourri LLC, Impulse Marketing LLC and Three Rivers Enterprises LLC.
Khan is facing one count of: conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, maintaining a place for the purpose of storing and distributing a controlled substance, conspiracy to violate the food and drug and cosmetic act, and receiving mis-branded drugs for interstate commerce.
