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MAR 16--OAKLAND, CA – Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) Special Agent in Charge (“SAC”) Javier F. Peña announce today the arrest of Kenneth AFFOLTER, 39, of Lafayette, CA, and eleven other individuals on charges of distribution of marijuana. Agents served five federal search warrants on March 16, 2006, without incident. Three warrants were served at warehouses located in Emeryville (on the Oakland border), one in Oakland and one at AFFOLTER’s residence in Lafayette. All searches conducted were at locations associated with AFFOLTER. As a result of the searches law enforcement seized four sophisticated indoor marijuana grows, thousands of marijuana plants, a large amount of U.S. Currency, two semi-automatic weapons, one revolver, and hundreds of pot laced candy and soft drinks.
Some of the laced candy seized in the operation.
SAC Peña stated, “In a way, this case sort of answers the question, 'What will they think of next?' What so many people don't realize is that innocent children may somehow get their hands on these products and think they are just normal candy or soft drinks - thus, making this action not only illegal, but potentially tragic.”
This investigation began in October 2005, when the DEA Oakland Resident Office obtained information that AFFOLTER was operating Beyond Bomb, a manufacturer of marijuana candy in Oakland, CA. The marijuana laced candy and other edibles manufactured by the company mimic the name and appearance of well known name brand candies and products. Some of the product labels seized by investigators include Stoney Ranchers, Munchy Way, Rasta Reece’s, Buddafingers, Pot Tarts, Double Puff Oeo, Tri-Chrome Crunch, Keef Kat, Twixed, Budtella, Puff-A-Mint Pattie, Puffsi, Bong’s Root Beer, and Toka-Cola.
This investigation was conducted with the assistance of the Richmond Police Department, Oakland Police Department, Vallejo Police Department, Lafayette Police Department, Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement, Contra Costa County Narcotics Enforcement Team (CCNET), and the Alameda County Narcotics Task Force (ACNTF).
This case is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of California. The charges are only allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.