Counts Two and Three

Counts two and three aiding and abetting the sale of marijuana to minors, under the age of twenty-one, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 859(a), and 18 U.S.C. § 2 (Counts Two and Three); So here we have 841(a(1) which is the same violation I was convicted of in Count 1 distribution of marijuana (but this time to a "minor" person under the age of 21; 859(a) is the distribution to minors under the age of 21 conviction; and the 18 U.S.C. § 2 conviction is saying I have committed a crime against the United States and am punisable as a principle.

JSJ (image blurred) who was 20 years old at the time was under the age of twenty-one. California state law allows any age access to medical cannabis with a Doctor's Recommendation. Also my business license from the City of Morro Bay CA stated '18 years or older unless accompanied by a parent'...but I found out the hard way in a Federal 'drug' case anybody under the age of 21 is considered a minor. With Federal Power of Limiting Evidence in their favor, Federal Prosecutors blocked the testimony of cancer survivor Owen Beck whose story is highlighted in a Drew Carey online video documentary and who was a 17 year old member at our dispensary that came in with his parents. Instead Federal Prosecutors used this photo (blurred) to show to the jury of the 'Minor' I had provided medical marijuana to.

JSJ (name and image blurred) was 20 years old at the time and he worked security at the dispensary and had a valid Doctor's recommendation. He stopped showing up for work one day and never heard from him again only to see his initials and picture used against me in Federal court. Of the 200+ members of our dispensary under the age of 21 why Federal Prosecutors chose Justin is beyond me.

This is the Count that Judge Wu sentenced me to 1 year for. Judge Wu applied the 'safety valve' on all other counts against me which had mandatory minimums of up to at least 5 years, but he said his hands were tied and the safety valve does not apply on this count.

UPDATE (10-2019) After 12 years I was finally able to talk to JSJ who is doing well. He told me that the Federal Government never talked to him about using his name and image in the prosecution and he heard about it afterwards. JSJ also said he did not like his name and image being posted here on this website. Showing more respect than the Federal Government I decided to remove his name and blur his image from the site. Unfortunately the story will live on forever.