Queen City Shop Owners Sentenced To Prison In Synthetic Drug Case

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that the owners of a head shop and liquor store in Queen City, Mo., were sentenced in federal court on October 4, 2015, for their roles in a mail fraud conspiracy related to the distribution of synthetic marijuana, commonly referred to as K2.

Jimmy Dean Moore, 50, and his ex-wife Tina Irene Moore, 45, both of Queen City, were sentenced in separate appearances before U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes. Jimmy Moore was sentenced to three years in federal prison without parole. Tina Moore was sentenced to two years and three months in federal prison without parole.

Jimmy and Tina Moore each pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to commit mail fraud. The Moores and their co-conspirators devised a scheme to defraud the Food and Drug Administration and to defraud the public by claiming that synthetic cannabinoid products were “incense” and “not for human consumption,” when in fact these substances were synthetic cannabinoids that were intended for human consumption as a drug.

Between April 20, 2012, and Jan. 17, 2013, the Moores (who were married at the time) purchased synthetic marijuana from co-conspirators, which was delivered through FedEx. The Moores distributed the synthetic marijuana from Moore-4-You Variety Store, their head-shop and liquor store at 1108 Cedar Street in Queen City.

Based upon the invoices, bank records, and products seized by law enforcement, the Moores purchased approximately $145,999 of synthetic cannabinoid products from their co-conspirators, which they then sold through their business for approximately $291,999. In total, they sold multiple kilogram quantities of synthetic cannabinoid products.

The distribution of synthetic drugs from Moore-4-You was the dominant economic activity taking place at the business. Over a five-week period in July and August 2012, for example, they obtained $28,165 of synthetic drug inventory, compared to $6,568 of beer inventory and $2,324 of liquor inventory.

Co-defendant Charles Sterling Austin, Jr., 63, of St. Charles, Mo., pleaded guilty on Oct. 28, 2015, to participating in a money-laundering conspiracy. As the owner of Puff N Snuff, LLC, with two locations in Camdenton and Eldon, Mo., Austin also pleaded guilty to the same charge on behalf of the company. Austin admitted that he purchased synthetic marijuana from several sources and sold it in his smoke shop.

This case is being prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. Oliver. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, IRS-Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Columbia, Mo., Police Department, the MUSTANG Task Force, the LANEG Drug Task Force, the Cole County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Morgan County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Camden County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Camdenton, Mo., Police Department, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Kirksville, Mo., Police Department, the North Missouri Drug Task Force, the Schuyler County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Edina, Mo., Police Department, the Linn County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department and the  Brookfield, Mo., Police Department.