United States Drug Enforcement Administration

DENVER - U.S. District Court Judge Philip A. Brimmer sentenced John Bowen, age 68, of Las Vegas to 60 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release for his role as the kingpin in a Conspiracy to Defraud the United States, Distribute Controlled Substances, and Money Laundering, federal law enforcement announced today.  In addition to the prison sentence, assets were ordered forfeited, including $1,800,000 in cash as well as three real properties in Florida. 
                                                                                  
Following an eight month investigation by federal, state and local law enforcement, named Operation SYNERGY by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Special Operations Division, a federal grand jury in Denver returned indictments charging nine individuals from across the country with conspiracy and drug distribution charges related to “Spice”.  To date, eight individuals have been convicted and sentenced in this Operation.

“Spice” is a common term for synthetic cannabinoids.  From August through September 2013, there were 221 documented synthetic cannabinoid related emergency room visits in the Denver and Colorado Springs metro areas.  There were hospitalizations in other states as well.  The Colorado Department of Public Health and (CDPHE) and the Centers for Disease Control and (CDC) initially investigated the outbreak of these emergency room visits, declaring an emergency health epidemic in 2013.  In response to the crisis, federal, state and local law enforcement and prosecutors came together to identify solutions to protect the public, especially youth, from the purchase and use of Spice and other synthetic cannabinoid products. 

The majority of “Spice” victims were between the ages of 12 through 29, with victims ranging in age from 12 to 70 years of age.  Seventy-five percent of the victims were male.  Local convenience stores and gas stations made retail sales of the spice products.  In this case, investigators determined that the original chemical product was sent to the United States from China.  The indictment alleges the chemical was imported to Florida and received by defendant Daniel Bernier.  In Florida the chemical was sprayed on a green vegetable substance.   The chemical-coated substance was then packaged and shipped to both wholesalers and retailers in Colorado and throughout the United States. 

“The investigation of Bowen’s organization was key to one of the most significant synthetic drug investigations conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration.” said Barbra Roach, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Denver Field Division.  “Synthetic cannabinoids pose significant and dangerous health threats to our communities, and those who would try to profit from them must be held accountable.   There is no such thing as safe ‘Spice’.”

“Synthetic cannabinoid, also known as Spice, is a dangerous illegal substance that can make individuals very ill, and even kill them,” said U.S. Attorney John Walsh.  “Thanks to the hard work of law enforcement at every level in Colorado, including the Assistant U.S. Attorneys, and the agents from the DEA, FDA Office of Inspector General and the IRS Criminal Investigation, as well as our state partners, the District Attorney’s Office for the 18th Judicial District and the Colorado Attorney General’s Office -- we’ve removed a substantial amount of Spice from the streets of Colorado, and put in prison those who were making and selling the dangerous substance.”

The indictment and other court documents stated that the distribution was organized by John Bowen.  He first operated under the name “The Really Cool Stuff Company.”  After the product received negative media attention, Bowen changed the distribution name to “Heart of Asia.”  Creager Mercantile, run by defendant Donald Creager, III, was one of the wholesalers.  Creager shipped the product to local corner stores and gas stations in Colorado.  Defendant James Johnson of Castle Rock was a salesperson working for “The Really Cool Stuff Company” and later “Heart of Asia.”

The defendants also shipped product to retail outlets in other states, including Avalon on 4th LLC, associated with defendant Kenneth Chastain in Wisconsin; Main Stop, Inc., associated with defendant Altaf Hussain in Illinois; and “Tobacco Hut,” associated with defendants Peter Karfias and Stephanie Christensen in Nebraska.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Denver Field Division, the Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal (FDA OCI), the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal (IRS CI), the ATF, the District Attorney’s Office of the 18th Judicial District, the Aurora Police Department, the North Metro Drug Task Force, the West Metro Drug Task Force, the Castle Rock Police Department, the Denver Police Department, the Lakewood Police Department, and the Colorado Department of Revenue.