Biloxi City Councilman Admits to Illicit Drug Trade Through Vape Business

In Gulfport, Mississippi, a Biloxi City Councilman has pleaded guilty to charges of conspiring to possess and distribute Schedule I controlled substances through his business, the Candy Shop, LLC. Established in 2019, the business, which operated stores in Mississippi and North Carolina, came under scrutiny in 2020 by the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and the DEA. The investigation exposed that the vape products sold at these locations contained illegal synthetic cannabinoids, misleadingly branded as CBD.

The federal probe intensified with searches in January 2023, resulting in the seizure of over $1.8 million in cash and other evidence of illicit activities from the councilman’s residence and stores. The investigation further revealed transactions aimed at acquiring additional synthetic substances for vape products, leading to his indictment by a federal grand jury.

U.S. officials, including representatives from the DEA and FDA, stressed the severity of a public official engaging in such unlawful enterprises, highlighting the risks posed to consumers by mislabeled products. The councilman’s plea includes significant financial forfeitures, including over $1.9 million and a custom vehicle, with sentencing scheduled for August 2024. This case underscores the ongoing efforts by federal and state agencies to combat the distribution of dangerous, unregulated substances disguised as consumer goods.