The owners of Hellbender Meadery in Rogersville have been indicted with a conspiracy to distribute synthetic drugs, known as K2.
According to a news release from the office of the U.S. attorney for the Western District of Missouri, the owners are among 21 individuals involved in the ownership and operation of 13 retail outlets and other businesses who were charged in a series of six indictments made open to the public late last week. The businesses and individuals span the Ozarks from Springfield to Joplin, as well as other towns.
The grand jury indictments follow an investigation by local, state and federal law enforcement agencies examining the distribution of K2, a synthetic cannabinoid. The synthetic products produce similar effects to marijuana, but can cause increased paranoia, panic attacks, and increased heart rate and blood pressure, the release said.
Douglas Franklin, 54, his son Brandon Franklin, 26, and his daughter Caitlyn Franklin, 24, all of Springfield, originally were indicted Nov. 6, but a 15-count superseding indictment presented Dec. 11 includes additional charges and defendants.
The federal indictment alleges the Franklins committed a mail fraud scheme to the tune of $6.7 million by selling and shipping Kryp2nite products via FedEx. Through their Springfield business, ThirdEye, the Franklins allegedly manufactured and distributed the K2 products to retail outlets in Springfield, Joplin and elsewhere. They are also charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering, according to the release.
Caitlyn and Brandon Franklin also own Rogersville startup Hellbender Meadery, which was intended to open in November. The Franklins
were charged before the proposed opening date.
In addition to the Franklins, Jesse Hudson, 26, Dayne Nail, 24, and Travis Elliott, 36, all of Springfield; Austin Nail, 24, and DeWayne Barnhart, 35, both of Joplin; Ray McCall, 69, of Douglas County; and Jeremy Elliott, 40, of Rogers Ark., also were charged in the mail fraud and controlled substance distribution conspiracies. Jeremy and Travis Elliott and Austin and Dayne Nail are all brothers, the release said.
McCall owns Good Vibes Convenience Store in Springfield and Ray's Country Store in Mountain Grove; Jeremy Elliott owns Mr. Nice Guy, with Austin Nail serving as manager of the Joplin store and Barnhart managing the Webb City store; Travis Elliott owns A Head of Our Times, which is managed in Springfield by Dayne Nail; and Hudson owns Karma's Bazaar in Springfield.
McCall is charged with two counts of aiding and abetting others to distribute a controlled substance, as well as one count of maintaining Ray's Country Store for the purpose of store and distributing a controlled substance, the release said.
Jeremy Elliott and Austin Nail were charged together with two counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Jeremy Elliott and Barnhart are charged together with one count of intending to distribute a controlled substance, as well as two counts of maintaining Mr. Nice Guy stores in Joplin and Webb City for the purpose of storing and distributing a controlled substance.
Travis Elliott and Dayne Nail are charged together with intending to distribute a controlled substance, and the two also were charged together with using A Head of Our Times to store and distribute a controlled substance, the release said.
Brandon Franklin and Hudson were charged together with a count of distributing a controlled substance, Hudson was charged with using Karma's Bazaar to store and distribute a controlled substance.
The indictment contains several forfeiture provisions that would require the Franklins to forfeit to the government property derived from the proceeds of the alleged offenses, including a money judgment of $6.8 million; real estate in Springfield, Rogersville, Springfield, Ore., and Redding, Calif.; a 2010 Toyota Tacoma and an enclosed trailer; funds contained in several bank accounts totaling $535,000; and investment funds totaling $318,000. The forfeiture provisions include the Rogersville land for Hellbender Meadery, including its buildings, as property that could be seized in relation to the alleged charges, according to court documents.
The case is being prosecuted by Michael Oliver, a supervisory assistant U.S. attorney. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations; Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation; the Jasper County Drug Task Force; the South Central Drug Task Force; the Missouri State Highway Patrol; the Springfield Police Department; the Newton County Sheriff’s Department; and the Greene County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
