Long Island convenience store owner sentenced to prison for selling K2 drug from his convenience store
Defendant packaged K2 in glitter bags with brand names “OMG,” “AK47” and “Joker”
CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. - Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Osman Ak was sentenced by United States District Judge Denis R. Hurley to a year and one day in prison, to be followed by three years’ supervised release, for selling the illegal drug K2, also known as “spice” and synthetic marijuana, from his convenience store in Medford, New York. Ak pleaded guilty in November 2017.
James J. Hunt, Special Agent-in-Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division, Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York (EDNY), and George Beach II, Superintendent, New York State Police (NYSP), announced the sentence.
“Ingesting K2 is like playing Russian roulette, and Osman AK was the person responsible for enticing the young people of Long Island to play,” stated DEA Special Agent-in-Charge Hunt. “Today AK is being held accountable for peddling this extremely dangerous and potentially life threatening synthetic cannabinoid into our communities. I commend the agents and officers assigned to our DEA Long Island District Office, our partners at the New York State Police, and the prosecution team at the Eastern District of New York for their hard work on this investigation.”
“Osman Ak is going from his convenience store to prison for selling dangerous drugs over the counter, placing the community at risk to the dangers associated with this synthetic hallucinogen and its unpredictable side effects,” stated United States Attorney Donoghue. “This Office is working tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to prosecute drug traffickers and dealers at all levels and hold them responsible for their crimes.”
"As we have seen time and again, synthetic drugs endanger the health of users and have no place being sold in our neighborhoods,” stated NYSP Superintendent Beach. “This case sends a strong message that we will not tolerate the sale of synthetic drugs anywhere in New York State, and those who sell these illegal substances at the detriment of our communities will be held fully accountable.”
The defendant owned and operated the convenience store, Eyup Gas & Convenience Store, Inc. doing business as US Food Mart in Medford where, between April 2017 and May 29, 2017, he sold the illegal drugs during business hours. According to court filings, the K2 was packaged in glitter bags bearing cartoon characters and brand names such as “OMG,” “AK47,” “Joker” and “Hayze Peachy King.” The drugs were kept in cigar boxes hidden behind the cash register. Store videotapes seized by law enforcement for the relevant time period showed bags of K2 being sold to customers, most of whom appeared to be young adults.
This investigation was worked by a task force group within the DEA Long Island District Office that consists of agents from the DEA, as well as investigators from the New York State Police, the Nassau County Police Department, the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, and the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office. It was a collaborative effort with New York State Police, Troop L and EDNY.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Long Island Criminal Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Charles P. Kelly and Madeline O’Connor are in charge of the prosecution.
The Defendant:
OSMAN AK
Age: 45
Holbrook, New York
E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 17-CR-527 (DRH)
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