Four face charges of manufacturing, distributing synthetic pot in Palm Beach County
By Alexandra Seltzer
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Posted: 5:01 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013
Three months ago when an undercover Palm Beach County Sheriff’s deputy handed nine boxes of synthetic marijuana PACKAGING to William Sands, the western Boca Raton man was relieved, and said he thought the boxes were seized by U.S. Customs.
The deputy told Sands, 46, he knew nothing about that, and while standing outside of a Pak Mail on Glades Road in Boca Raton, the two shook hands.
Sands is now facing criminal charges, for the second time since October, and is accused of manufacturing and selling synthetic marijuana with three others.
Sands, his wife Ann Sands,51, Sudhir Suwal, 42, and Tihomir Gulan, 46, all were arrested over the past week as part of Operation Last Dance,
an investigation that started in June when the sheriff’s office was notified by Homeland Security Investigations that they seized 40,000 empty packets of synthetic marijuana packaging.
The investigation involved executing search warrants at 11199 Seagrass Circle in suburban Boca Raton and at 216 South F St. in Lake Worth.
Authorities seized 292 pounds of synthetic marijuana, worth about $1.25 million on the street, and over $215,000 of illegal proceeds.
The four face charges of manufacturing synthetic marijuana and manufacturing a schedule I controlled substance. Additional charges are pending, said sheriff’s spokesman Eric Davis.
Authorities say William Sands organized and ran the day-to-day operations of the business. Suwal was partners with Sands and was in charge of the overseas operation purchasing chemicals. Gulan was in charge of manufacturing the product under Sands. Investigators say Ann Sands lives in the home on Seagrass Circle where the operation was conducted and there was no way she wasn’t aware of the business.
The product was manufactured in the home’s cabana area. After executing a search warrant there authorities say they found bags and boxes of synthetic marijuana, several digital scales, a sealing machine, thousands of labels describing different types of the drug and numerous acetone containers, which is used in producing the product.
Investigators also found documents detailing purchases from spice companies for ingredients of synthetic marijuana including marshmallow leaf.
Gulan, of Tamarac, was booked into the Palm Beach County Jail Thursday and released after posting $9,000 bond. William and Ann Sands were booked Aug. 29 and were both released Aug. 30 after each posting $6,000 bond. Suwal, of Boca Raton, was booked Wednesday and was released Thursday after posting $6,000 bond, jail records show.
"Your as mighty as the flower that grows the stones away"