Columbia convenience store owner pleads guilty in federal court

Rafiqul Khan, the owner of Mari’s Gas Station on Prathersville Road in Columbia, has pleaded guilty to federal charges for selling synthetic marijuana.

Khan, 62, admitted to buying synthetic marijuana from another person and selling it at his store. According to prosecutors, Khan labeled the products as incense, herbal incense, potpourri, or therapeutic potpourri.

When they searched Khan’s store, deputies reported finding more than 35 pounds worth of synthetic marijuana. Khan admitted to buying and selling, in all, nearly 70 pounds of synthetic marijuana.

The synthetic marijuana were also deemed to be misbranded drugs, due to a false and misleading labels indicating they were not for human consumption. The packaging also lacked adequate direction for use, as well as labels with the name and place of business, the manufacturer, packer, or distributor.

Khan faces a sentence of up to five years in federal prison without parole.