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AG charges Tulsa attorneys

OBN: Pot growers paid law firm for ‘ghost owners’

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Two Oklahoma attorneys indicted by a multi-county grand jury are each charged in Garvin County District Court with 11 felonies.

The charges against Eric B. Brown, 41, and Logan Jones, 56, were filed June 16 by Attorney General John O’Connor. The defendants are from Tulsa and are law partners.

O’Connor accused the men of facilitating illegal medical marijuana operations in Garvin,   Major and Mayes counties

An arrest warrant for  Jones is outstanding. Brown was arrested and released on his own recognizance following his initial appearance.

A preliminary hearing conference for Brown will be at 9 a.m. August 19.

Charges against Brown are six counts of filing false or forged instrument, three counts of cultivating a controlled substance, and one count each of conspiring to cultivate a plant from which a controlled dangerous substance is derived and pattern of criminal offenses.

Jones faces nearly identical charges, except he is charged with seven counts of filing a false or forged instrument and two counts of cultivating a controlled substance.

The months-long investigation into the Jones-Brown Law Firm by the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics revealed  Jones and Brown directed medical marijuana businesses to sign consulting agreements with Jones-Brown employees, who would act as ghost owners of the company.

The consulting agreements state that the client would pay $3,000 per license per year for the law firm to provide a consultant to serve as an Oklahoma resident so the client could obtain their Oklahoma medical marijuana license.

“Let these charges send a loud and clear message to anyone engaging in criminal operations in Oklahoma – your actions will not go unnoticed,” O’Connor said. “My office is committed to eradicating these illegal operators and will continue to hold those facilitating illegal marijuana operations accountable.”

The attorney general expressed gratitude for the “excellent investigative work by the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and their dedication to dismantling criminal organizations.”

OBN Director Donnie Anderson reciprocated the sentiment, crediting O’Connor and his staff and the multi-county grand jury for “targeting those who created fraudulent business structures and enlisted ‘ghost owners’ allowing criminal organizations to unlawfully obtain a marijuana license.”

“My agency has worked tirelessly to investigate these criminal organizations that hide behind their license while moving literally tons of marijuana onto the illicit market. They also are responsible for collateral crimes including money laundering and human trafficking,” Anderson continued.

During the investigation, OBN agents searched several locations in Oklahoma including Dao K 88 LLC in Garvin County, Evergreen Cannabis LLC in Major County, seizing 20,218  marijuana plants.

The investigation revealed that the Jones-Brown Law Firm submitted documents to the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority and to OBN asserting percentages of ownership including a 75 percent owner as an Oklahoma resident and a 25 percent owner as a non-Oklahoma resident.

Based on statements and evidence gathered during the investigation, the assertions that Oklahoma residents were 75 percent owners of marijuana grow operations were fraudulently submitted to the state agencies to obtain licenses.

This was facilitated by the Jones-Brown Law Firm through the partners.

It was also discovered through the investigation that more than approximately 400 marijuana growers in the state listed law firm employees as 75 percent owners.

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