[Sativa]

After a two-year investigation, federal agents busted an Oakland-based marijuana candy maker this week, seizing hundreds of marijuana-laced products and nearly 460 marijuana plants.

Drug Enforcement Administration agents, with assistance from the Food and Drug Administration and Oakland and Concord police departments, served multiple federal search and arrest warrants Wednesday relating to an investigation into Tainted Inc. -- manufacturer of marijuana-laced candies -- and its owner, Michael Martin, 33, of El Sobrante.

Martin is a fugitive, authorities said.

Three others were arrested in connection with the raids: Jessica Sanders, 30, of San Leandro, and Michael Anderson, 42, and Diallo McLinn, 35, both of Oakland. It is believed Sanders was the manager at Tainted Inc., and the other two have been identified as couriers. Each is charged with conspiracy to manufacture or distribute controlled substances. The maximum penalty for the violation is 20 years' imprisonment and a $1 million fine.

The searches of five locations turned up marijuana plants, an undisclosed amount of money and hundreds of marijuana-laced products, including chocolate candy bars in multiple flavors, cookies, ice cream, peanut butter, jelly, barbecue sauce, chocolate syrup, flavored energy drinks, granola bars, moon pies, brownies, chocolate-covered pretzels and "Rice Krispy" treats.

The investigation into Tainted Inc. began nearly two years ago when the DEA's Oakland office received information on Martin and his company. According to the criminal complaint, Tainted Inc. began in Oakland as a small operation, initially cooking marijuana leaves in butter and making chocolate truffles. Tainted Inc. expanded into making marijuana-laced candies and supplied cannabis clubs in the Bay Area; Seattle; Vancouver, British Columbia; and Amsterdam, Netherlands, as well as being connected to multiple cannabis clubs operating in the Los Angeles area, authorities say.

Product order forms seized from a cannabis club in Southern California show Tainted Inc.'s products were offered for $2.50 to $20 per item, depending on the type and strength of marijuana product ordered. An affidavit details how investigators believe that Tainted Inc. ordered almost 4 tons of chocolate in the past two years that was used in making the marijuana-infused candy.

The investigation led to Wednesday's raids of Tainted Inc.'s factory and marijuana-growing facility -- both in North Oakland -- Martin's residence and the residence of several other Tainted Inc. employees.


The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in Oakland, CA displayed samples of marijuana-laced candy seized during an investigation of Tainted Incorporated. Tainted Incorporated is a manufacturer of marijuana-laced candies. Photo taken on Thursday, September 27, 2007. (Karna Kurata/The Oakland Tribune)



News Hawk- User http://www.420Magazine.com
Source: San Jose Mercury News
Author: Chris Metinko
Contact: cmetinko@cctimes.com
Copyright: 2007 San Jose Mercury News
Website: http://www.mercurynews.com/crime/ci_7025218