A quartet of thieves was arrested last week for allegedly stealing more than $3 million worth of CBD oil from a Georgia processing facility in January in one of the largest heists of its kind in the state.
The group is accused of taking off with a staggering 3,000 liters of CBD distillate from a hemp processing plant in Irwin County, according to the Ocilla Police Department, which then alerted the Ohio Department of Agriculture.
Those 3,000 liters had an estimated worth of $3.6 million, cops said.
Hemp oil, or CBD distillate, is a type of cannabis product most often used to treat joints and chronic pain. It contains very low levels of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, so it does not typically cause a person to get high.
CBD has grown more popular in recent years and has even been added to sodas and other drinks available at small shops and grocery stores.
Due to the nature of the robbery, Ocilla authorities partnered with the Agriculture Department. The investigation took five months and eventually led them to the doorsteps of the four suspects, including two who had absconded to Houston, Texas, according to the DOA.
Authorities arrested Maurice Cornelius Williams, 41, and Deandre Meshack, 24, in Texas on the suspicion that the two were the brawns of the operation.
The supposed brains, LaShayla Jones, 31, and Aaron Wayne Smith, 29, were arrested in Dallas, Texas, and surmised to be the primary organizers of the heist.
The four alleged thieves worked together to arrange the heist. Williams and Meshack allegedly broke into the Irwin County hemp facility and loaded all 3,000 of the missing liters of oil into a rented U-Haul truck, according to the DOA.
From there, officers believe they transported the stolen oil onto another truck outside the county.
Meanwhile, Jones and Smith allegedly orchestrated the entire operation, with Smith taking the helm, the DOA wrote.
The stolen oil hasn’t been recovered. It’s unclear where the suspects may have sent it, or if it was already sold.
The four face a laundry list of different felony charges. The majority are stacked on Smith, including second-degree burglary and possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, according to the DOA.
“I am incredibly proud of the work our officers did to ensure the perpetrators of this crime face swift justice, and we’re especially grateful to the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Texas Rangers, and the Irwin County Sheriff’s Office for their vital assistance on this case. In Georgia we are sending a clear message, if you attempt to use agriculture as a cover for criminal activity – we will catch you and you will go to prison,” Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler J Harper said.
Harper surmised that the heist was one of the largest of CBD distillate in Georgia — and likely in the entire country.
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