Chalmette cigarette store owner arrested for selling synthetic marijuana out of his store; He had 1.4 pounds worth $6,300 and also had $4,300 in cash

Kevin Kumar Shah, Chalmette cigarette stor owner arrested for selling synthetic marijuana from his store and had 1.4 pounds there.

Packages of 1.4 pounds of synthetic marijuana, $4,300 cash and other items seized at Shah’s store – Chalmette Discount Cigarettes.

A Chalmette cigarette store owner has been arrested for selling synthetic marijuana out of his store and he had 1.4 pounds worth $6,300 in a back room with $4,300 cash next to it when he was taken into custody, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Kevin Kumar Shah, 25, owner of Chalmette Discount Cigarettes at 1800 E. Judge Perez Drive, was arrested Monday, Nov. 4, and was later released from St. Bernard Parish Prison on a $50,000 bond. He listed his address as 867 St, Charles Ave., New Orleans. The store has reopened since he was released on bond.

In a twist, Shah’s own store surveillance system will be used as evidence against him, the sheriff said, because he is shown on the store system going into a blue bag where the cache of synthetic marijuana was found in a search of the store. The bag was in a back room when found but the owner was also shown on video bringing it to the front register area.

Also, the surveillance system shows Shah selling cigarettes to young people dressed in school uniforms who appear to be below the minimum age for legally buying tobacco products, which will be investigated and could lead to further charges.

Sheriff Pohlmann said, “These types of synthetic marijuana, whether known as Spice, MoJo or other names given them, have been illegal in this state for some time now. Some people wrongly believe are legal.

“But if you are selling or using synthetic marijuana we are coming after you.’’

Shah was booked with possession with intent to distribute 630 grams, or about 1.4 pounds, of synthetic marijuana, worth about $6,300 when sold at $10 a gram, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

Shah was also booked with distribution of synthetic marijuana and possession with intent to distribute drug paraphernalia including pipes, scales and grinders.

The arrest, made at Shah’s store by the Sheriff’s Special Investigations Division led by Maj. Chad Clark, came after a month-long investigation. Based on evidence gathered, a search warrant was signed by a judge and it was executed at the business, the sheriff said.

Both Sheriff Pohlmann and Clark said they were angered that a business owner was selling an illegal drug out of his store under the guise of operating a legitimate business.

Clark said, “Are we going to have to re-focus attention on what are supposed to be legitimate business people?”

Shah admitted he was selling synthetic marijuana but said he didn’t know it was now illegal, a claim which whether true or not is irrelevant, the sheriff said. “Anyone distributing any product has the responsibility to know if it is illegal.”

“There is a reason this synthetic stuff was made illegal,” Sheriff Pohlmann said. “It is made from chemicals sprayed on material and smoked, often by young people who have no idea what is in the chemicals. We have seen instances of people seriously affected by these synthetics.”

The Sheriff’s Office has made numerous arrests of people selling or using synthetic marijuana.

“We will continue aggressively going after anyone selling synthetic marijuana,” Clark said.