Springfield businessman sentenced for K2 conspiracy

A Springfield businessman was sentenced in federal court May 27 for his role in a conspiracy to distribute more than $1.6 million in synthetic cannabinoids, also known as K2.

Donald Parrett, 43, of Springfield, and owner of Head Kase stores in Springfield and Joplin, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Greg Kays to five years in federal prison without parole, according to a news release from the office of Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri.

 Parrett oversaw and managed the wholesale and retail distribution of K2 from Head Kase. Co-defendants Clyde Hicks, 53, of Aurora, and Lola Hall, 44, of Ozark, who worked as sales clerks, were sentenced to probation in separate court appearances.

According to the release, Parrett, Hicks and Hall each pleaded guilty to participating in the conspiracy to commit mail fraud. They admitted they conspired to defraud the Food and Drug Administration and the general public by selling synthetic cannabinoids under false representations that the products were “incense” or “potpourri” and “not for human consumption.”

Parrett also obtained private laboratory reports that purported to show the substances for sale did not contain controlled substances in an attempt to create a legal fiction that buyers of the K2 could obtain a “legal” high.

Between November 2010 and July 2012, Parrett’s business generated at least $1,654,410 from the sale and Parrett paid at least $570,439 to at least nine separate distributors for his supply.

This case was prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Oliver. It was investigated by the Springfield Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Jasper County Drug Task Force, the Joplin Police Department and IRS-Criminal Investigation.