Punjabi-American Convenience Store Owners Charged With Selling Synthetic Drugs
BLOOMINGTON – Twenty people, including a large number of Punjabi-American convenience store owners, have been formally charged after several convenience stores were raided earlier this week in St. Joseph Counties and Elkhart Counties, in the state of Indiana.
Police raided the stores in connection with a synthetic drug sting. Each store allegedly sold synthetic marijuana, reported WSBT-TV Report.
Investigators say 7 warrants were served in St. Joseph County and 9 people were arrested following those warrants.
In Elkhart County, a total of 14 warrants were served and 11 people were arrested.
Police say the raids started at 3 p.m. on Monday when people who live and work near those stores called police, complaining about the sales.
It was part of a year-long investigation into the suspected sale of synthetic marijuana.
“People living in the neighborhoods around these markets and gas stations, including parents, reached out to law enforcement with their concerns regarding possible synthetic drugs being sold,” according to St. Joseph County Prosecutor, Michael Dvorak. “This led to the initiation of the operation. The officers who worked together on this lengthy investigation should be commended.”
Late Wednesday afternoon, Elkhart County Prosecutor Curtis Hill released the names and charges against 11 suspects in the investigation who were put in jail.
Affidavits were submitted to Magistrate Burton who found probable cause for the following arrests:
Gurcharn Singh (10/20/1970) – Corrupt business influence, a Class C felony; dealing in a synthetic drug or a synthetic drug lookalike substance, a Class C felony; and, money laundering a Class D felony.
Bond for Gurcharn Singh is set at $500,000.00.
Jaswinder Kaur (4/20/1977) – Corrupt business influence, a Class C felony; dealing in a synthetic drug or a synthetic drug lookalike substance, a Class C felony; and money laundering, a Class D felony.
Bond for Jaswinder Kaur is set at $500,000.00.
Peter Rose Fernandes (5/23/1966) – Dealing in a synthetic drug or a synthetic drug lookalike substance, a Class D felony; and money laundering, a Class D felony;
Bond for Peter Rose Fernandes is set at $50,000.00.
Maranda Marie Haynes (10/9/192) – Dealing in a synthetic drug or a synthetic drug lookalike substance, a Class D felony; and money laundering, a Class D felony.
Bond for Maranda Marie Haynes is set at $50,000.00.
Muhammad Mobeen Khan (4/6/1986) – Corrupt business influence, a Class C felony; dealing in a synthetic drug or a synthetic drug lookalike substance, a Class D felony; and money laundering, a Class D felony.
Bond for Muhammad Mobeen Khan is set at $500,000.00.
Amandeep Singh (4/16/1993) – Dealing in a synthetic drug or a synthetic drug lookalike substance, a Class D felony; and money laundering, a Class D felony.
Bond for Amandeep Singh is set at $50,000.00.
Gurpreet Singh (12/17/1991) – Corrupt business influence, a Class C felony; dealing in a synthetic drug or a synthetic drug lookalike substance, a Class C felony; and, money laundering, a Class D felony.
Bond for Gurpreet Singh is set at $500,000.00.
Gurpreet Singh (9/30/1977) – Dealing in a synthetic drug or a synthetic drug lookalike substance, a Class D felony; and, money laundering a Class D felony
Bond for Gurpreet Singh is set at $50,000.00.
Sarabjit Singh Gujjar (4/2/1991) – Dealing in a synthetic drug or a synthetic drug lookalike substance, a Class D felony; and, money laundering a Class D felony.
Bond for Sarabjit Singh Gujjar is set at $50,000.00.
Sukhjinder Singh (11/29/1991) – Dealing in a synthetic drug or a synthetic drug lookalike substance, a Class D felony; and, money laundering, a Class D felony.
Bond for Sukhjinder Singh is set at $50,000.00.
Melissa L. St. George (10/21/1976) – Dealing in a synthetic drug or a synthetic drug lookalike substance, a Class D felony; and, money laundering, a Class D felony.
Bond for Melissa St. George is currently set at $50,000.00.
Here are the suspects and charges in St. Joseph County:
Eddy Street Food Mart, 334 N. Eddy Street, South Bend:
Jagwinder Singh, 36, was charged with:
Count I: Dealing in a Synthetic Drug in an Amount Greater than 2 Grams
Count II: Dealing in a Synthetic Drug
A Confidential Informant (C.I.) made two separate controlled buys at Eddy Street Food Mart where Jagwinder Singh was a clerk. Both times, the substance bought tested positive for synthetic drugs. Probable Cause was found. Bond was set at $10,000 Corporate surety or $1,000 cash.
Manpreet Singh, 20, was charged with:
Count I: Dealing in a Synthetic Drug in An Amount Greater Than 2 Grams
Count II: Dealing in a Synthetic Drug in An Amount Greater Than 2 Grams
Count III: Dealing in a Synthetic Drug
Count IV: Possession of Paraphernalia
Count V: Dealing in a Synthetic Drug
Count VI: Dealing in a Synthetic Drug
Probable Cause was found. Bond was set at $25,000 Corporate surety or $2,500 cash.
A C.1.made four separate purchases of synthetic drugs at Eddy Street Food Mart, each made on a different day. Each time the substance purchased tested positive for the presence of synthetic drugs. On April 25, 2014, the same C.1.also made a controlled purchase of synthetic drugs and drug paraphernalia from the Eddy Street Food Mart. The substance purchased, ”7H,” field tested positive for the presence of synthetic drugs.
Stop N Shop, 1039 Lincolnway West, South Bend:
Mushtak Talib AI-Safi, 46, was charged with:
Count I: Dealing in a Synthetic Drug in An Amount Greater Than 2 Grams
Count II: Dealing in a Synthetic Drug in An Amount Greater Than 2 Grams
Probable Cause was found. Bond was set at $15,000 Corporate surety or $1,500 cash.
A C.1.made controlled buys on two separate occasions at Stop N Shop, where AI-Safi was a clerk. Both times, the substance bought tested positive for the presence of synthetic drugs.
Christopher Crockrom, 32, was charged with:
Count I: Dealing in a Synthetic Drug in An Amount Greater Than 2 Grams
Count II: Dealing in a Synthetic Drug
Probable Cause was found. Bond was set at $10,000 Corporate surety or $1,000 cash.
A C.1.made controlled buys on two separate occasions at Stop N Shop, where Crockrom was a clerk. Both times, the substance bought tested positive for the presence of synthetic drugs.
Sam’s Food Mart, 1336 Lincolnway West, South Bend:
Bernardo Carrillo-Delreal, 29, was charged with:
Count I: Dealing in a Synthetic Drug a Class A Misdemeanor
Probable Cause was found. Bond was set at $2,500 Corporate surety or $250 cash.
A C.1.made a controlled buy at Sam’s Food Mart, where Bernardo Carrillo-Delreal was the clerk. The substance bought tested positive for the presence of synthetic drugs.
Sergio Carrillo-Delreal, 31, was charged with:
Count I: Dealing in a Synthetic Drug in An Amount Greater Than 2 Grams
Probable Cause was found. Bond was set at $7,500 Corporate surety or $750 cash.
On April 25, 2014, a C.1. made a controlled buy from Sam’s Food Mart, where Sergio Carrillo-Delreal was a clerk. The substance bought tested positive for the presence of synthetic drugs.
Always Open Gas Station, 1401 N. Bendix, South Bend:
Jagpreet Singh, 22, was charged with:
Count I: Dealing in a Synthetic Drug in An Amount Greater Than 2 Grams
Count II: Dealing in a Synthetic Drug
Probable Cause was found. Bond was set at $10,000 Corporate surety or $1,000 cash.
A C.1. made two separate controlled buys from the Always Open Gas Station, where Jagpreet Singh was a clerk. Both times, the substance bought tested positive for the presence of synthetic drugs.
Samsher Singh, 35, was charged with:
Count I: Dealing in a Synthetic Drug in An Amount Greater Than 2 Grams
Count II: Dealing in a Synthetic Drug in An Amount Greater Than 2 Grams
Probable Cause was found. Bond was set at $15,000 Corporate surety or $1,500 cash.
A C.1. made two separate controlled buys from the Always Open Gas Station, where Samsher Singh was a clerk. Both times, the substance bought tested positive for the presence of synthetic drugs.
Rick’s Gas Station, 302 S. Main Street, Mishawaka:
Tarlok Singh, 65, was charged Tuesday with:
Count I: Dealing in a Synthetic Drug
Count II: Possession of a Synthetic Drug Weighing More than 2 Grams
Synthetic drugs are illegal, mainly because they are extremely dangerous.
WSBT has confirmed these stores are suspected of selling synthetic marijuana:
Stop Shop – 1039 Lincolnway West, South Bend
Rick’s Mart – 3529 W. Western Avenue, South Bend
Sam’s Food Mart – 1336 Lincolnway West, South Bend
Eddy Street Food Mart – 334 N. Eddy Street, South Bend
Always Open -1401 N. Bendix Avenue, South Bend
Rick’s – 302 S. Main Street, Mishawaka
Marathon – Osolo Rd and Bristol St., Elkhart
Phillips 66 – Franklin St., Elkhart
Marathon – Franklin St. and Indiana Ave., Elkhart
Burger Dairy – 1403/1409 W. Franklin St., Elkhart
Sunnyside Food Mart – 1502 Benham Ave., Elkhart
East Bristol Marathon – 1850 E. Bristol St., Elkhart
Energy Oil – 1245 S. Main St., Elkhart
Handy Spot – 1226 S. Main St., Elkhart
Courtesy WSBT-TV Report
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