HOUSTON - Harris County Attorney Vince Ryan won a permanent injunction last week to stop the sale of illegal synthetic marijuana by a smoke shop located in east Harris County. The shop also agreed to pay one million dollars in penalties to Harris County, the City of Houston, and the State of Texas.
On Oct. 11th, 152nd District Court Judge Robert Schaffer signed a judgment against the owners of the store located at 12745 East Freeway prohibiting the shop’s sale of synthetic marijuana, also known as “spice,” and to pay the million dollar judgment amount.
The lawsuit was filed as a result of an undercover investigation by the Houston Police Department stemming from a string of kush-related overdoses in Hermann Park in June of that year. The investigation discovered three smoke shops operating as Spice Boutique owned by two bothers were selling synthetic marijuana and the owners were subsequently arrested.
During the course of the lawsuit, the Court signed Orders requiring the stores to hire licensed peace officers to provide security at the store along with other conditions to abate the criminal activity. As a result, the owners closed the stores located at 2574 S. Loop West, Houston, Texas, and 9896 Southwest Fwy, Houston, Texas.
“The sale of synthetic substances is illegal and has proven to be dangerous and deadly in some instances.” said County Attorney Ryan." Profiting from this illicit activity at the expense of public health and safety will not be tolerated in Harris County”
The Final Judgment required the Defendants to pay penalties for the sale of synthetic substances. County Attorney Ryan collected $300,000 for the County, while $500,000 went to the Office of the Attorney General of Texas and $300,000 went to the City of Houston. A large portion of this money was paid to law enforcement.
The Harris County Attorney’s Office established the nuisance abatement program to deal with businesses like Spice Boutique. The program has had success across the county with closures of illicit spas, game rooms and after-hours bars. Additionally, the County Attorney’s Office has been successful in filing suit against apartment complexes where prostitution, narcotic offenses and aggravated crimes have taken place and often appointing a receiver to manage the properties until they clean up their act.
“These business operators know the law and they know what they’re doing is illegal,” said County Attorney Ryan. “We will continue our efforts to close illegal businesses and curb illicit activity.”