School bus full of illegal weed for sale busted in new york city

School Bus Full of Illegal Weed for Sale Busted in New York City

Posted by
1 min read
June 15, 2024

QUEENS, NY — Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz has announced the shutdown of an illicit cannabis dispensary operating out of a converted school bus in Sunnyside. The owner of the vehicle, identified as 62-year-old Anthony Stevens of Brooklyn, faces charges including unlawful sale and possession of cannabis.

The dispensary, dubbed “The Green Empress,” was allegedly targeting children with its product offerings, which included cannabis-infused items named and packaged similarly to popular children’s snacks such as “Skittles,” “Gummy Sharks,” and “Jolly Ranchers.” This marketing strategy led to the operation’s exposure and subsequent raid.

District Attorney Katz emphasized the dangers of unregulated cannabis operations, which often target young people and bypass safety, regulation, and taxes, undermining legitimate businesses. She reaffirmed her commitment to addressing community complaints about such dispensaries.

The enforcement action occurred on June 12, when detectives, alongside NYPD officers, executed a search warrant on the bus located at the corner of 43rd Street and Queens Boulevard. They recovered various cannabis products, including a chocolate bar, concentrated cannabis straws, and multiple items mimicking candy brands.

Stevens, who was given a desk appearance ticket, is scheduled to appear in court on July 2. The ongoing crackdown reflects efforts to regulate and control the sale of cannabis, ensuring compliance with state laws. Currently, New York state hosts 133 licensed recreational-use dispensaries, including 14 in Queens, alongside 42 medical dispensaries, with three in Queens.

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Facebook

Breaking News

Don't Miss

Exit mobile version