Sanford, FL – 5 people are caught and 6 more are sought as Seminole County investigators say they’ve shut down a synthetic drug ring and seized several million dollars’ worth of drug paraphernalia.
At least 2 Volusia County residents are among the 11 implicated by the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office in its investigation of a chain of smoke shops known as Pipe Dreams.
In a press release sent to the media on Friday, SCSO officials say agents with the City County Investigative Bureau started investigating those shops last August after getting complaints.
The CCIB is a multi-agency task force made up of agents from SCSO and all 7 police departments within Seminole County as well as the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Amtrak/Auto Train.
Investigators came away convinced that the married couple who owns those stores – 74-year-old James Knapton of Astor and 39-year-old Amie Knapton of Port Orange – were dealing in synthetic narcotics and tetrahydrocannabinol, also known as THC.
“Agents then conducted a series of undercover operations and made controlled purchases in order to identify the persons involved with the drug deals,” the press release stated. “In December 2014, CCIB agents and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement executed search warrants at 5 Pipe Dreams located within Seminole, Lake, Orange and Volusia counties.”
SCSO says agents found liquid THC as well as several million dollars in drug paraphernalia. Some of what those agents found can be seen in the video posted above.
James Knapton was arrested on Thursday and charged with racketeering, sale & delivery of a controlled substance, manufacture & delivery of drug paraphernalia, conspiracy to sell & deliver a controlled substance and conspiracy to manufacture & deliver drug paraphernalia.
Amie Knapton is among the 6 that remain at large and will face the same charges as her husband once she’s caught, per SCSO.
The other 4 who were arrested with James on Thursday were Pipe Dreams employees, according to SCSO. Their names and ages are posted below. Each has been charged with conspiracy to sell & deliver a controlled substance and conspiracy to manufacture & deliver drug paraphernalia.
– 53-year-old Bonnie Ashworth of Astor
– 33-year-old Brandon Beckman of Daytona Beach
– 30-year-old Clifford Lagarde of Ocoee
– 22-year-old Jacob Farrow of Sanford
All except Ashworth were booked in Seminole County Jail. Ashworth was booked at Lake County Jail.
The other 5 people who remain at-large along with Amie Knapton are as follows. SCSO says it has arrests warrants for each of them in connection with this investigation.
– 54-year-old Beverly Gonzalez
– 32-year-old Tracia McDade
– 30-year-old Jorge Dominguez
– 23-year-old Joshua Wheeler
– 20-year-old Samuel James
No other information was released on the wanted suspects other than all are white and Gonzalez and McDade are female. The others are male.
Anyone with information on the wanted suspects is asked to call SCSO at 407-665-6650 or CrimeLine at 1-800-423-8477.
The video above and photos below are courtesy of SCSO. All mugshots below except Ashworth’s come from SCJ. Ashworth’s is from LCJ.
James Knapton
Bonnie Ashworth
Brandon Beckman
Clifford Lagarde
Jacob Farrow
Copyright 2015 Southern Stone Communications.