Unlicensed Cannaland Dispensary Crackdown in Department of Justice Convictions
SAN DIEGO – Unlicensed marijuana dispensary industry in the Southern District of California was at the fore on June 30th when the Department of Justice (DOJ) U.S. Attorney’s Office announced a significant crackdown. Multiple individuals were convicted.
DOJ declared, ” Shahram “Sean” Sheikhan and Sabriana Williams pleaded guilty in federal court today to drug distribution charges, the latest individuals convicted as part of an ongoing investigation by federal and state authorities targeting unlicensed, illegal marijuana dispensaries throughout Southern California.”
Sheikhan and Williams, along with others, operated an unlicensed, illegal marijuana business known as “Cannaland,” which functioned primarily as a wholesale supplier of marijuana and marijuana products to unlicensed and illegal marijuana dispensariesfrom at least 2019 though 2022. “Additionally, Cannaland operated as an unlicensed, illegal marijuana dispensary in its own right, serving individual customers,” said DOJ.
A law-enforcement executed search warrant in April 2021 at 10630 Willie Baker Way in Spring Valley, California seized more that 3.000 LBS of marijuana. “Following the search warrant, Sheikhan and Williams personally coordinated and facilitated the procurement of replacement firearms for the business’ armed security guards and continued to operate their business and distribute vast amounts of marijuana,” said DOJ.
In addition, part of Sheikhan and Williams’ pleas agreements admitted that the amount of marijuana products distributed during the course of the conspiracy exceeded 3,000 kilograms. They joined several others who pleaded guilty to various drug, firearm, and money laundering charges in federal court as part of this investigation.
“The FBI is committed to keeping our communities safe from the vast array of violent crimes and criminal activity which accompanies these illegal establishments,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy. “I want to thank our law enforcement partners at the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, the San Diego Police Department, the Chula Vista Police Department, the Internal Revenue Service, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California, and the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office for their commitment and collaboration on these cases. It’s these ongoing partnerships which enable law enforcement from around the county to be agile and able to handle these types of
cases using a variety of investigative techniques with different prosecutive options.”
